After experimenting with many of the styles of the late 19th and early 20th century, such as Impressionism, Fauvism and Cubism, Marcel Duchamp became disillusioned with the rules and conventions of these styles dedicated his energies to conceiving a kind of Anti Art.   

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He wanted freedom in his thought and sought to eliminate what he described as the 'tedious' exercise of manufacturing from his art process. Art's technical considerations obstructed what was for him its' true value; the concept.

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His 'Readymades' were familiar commercially available objects that attracted him either through their 'beauty' or 'ugliness'.  By placing these familiar objects in the exclusive context of the gallery, Duchamp challenged the art world with questions about originality and value 

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Duchamp's output was relatively scarce compared to some of the other prominent artists of his time but his impact on 20th century thought was arguably the most significant.