Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968) was a French-American artist and one of the most influential figures of the 20th century art. Duchamp is best known for his innovative approach to art-making, which challenged traditional notions of art and the role of the artist.

Duchamp was a key figure in the Dada movement, which emerged in Europe during World War I and was characterized by a rejection of traditional artistic conventions and a focus on absurdity, irrationality, and anti-bourgeois attitudes. He is also associated with the development of conceptual art, which emphasizes the idea or concept behind the artwork, rather than its physical form or aesthetic qualities.

Duchamp’s most famous works include “Fountain”, a porcelain urinal that he signed with a pseudonym and submitted to an art exhibition in 1917, and “The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even”, a large-scale work that incorporates glass, dust, and other materials.

Duchamp’s ideas and approach to art-making have had a significant impact on modern and contemporary art, and have influenced a wide range of artistic movements, from pop art to performance art. He is considered one of the most important and influential artists of the 20th century.