What is the importance of Duchamp's Fountian?

In 1917, Marcel Duchamp submitted a urinal to an open exhibiton for the Society of Independent Artists. He presented it on its back, signed and dated “R.Mutt 1917”. The piece was never accepted into the exhibit, despite it being an open exhibit that claimed to accept any artist as long as an entry fee was paid.

It was controversial because it was not considred 'art'. Duchamp had not even created the piece himself, it was purely just an inscribed urianal. Some thought to call this everyday object sculpture was insulting to art itself. It lead critics and artists to question what actually is art? What objects can be considred art? These are questions that are still being asked today.

This piece is an example of what Duchamp coined as a 'readymade', an everyday object slightly adjusted to become a piece of art. In this case the positioning of the urinal and its inscription led it to become an artwork. These pieces make us look twice at an object that we woud not usually appreciate the beauty of when outside of the context of a museum or art gallery.

It has been interpreted in many ways, commonly relating to its function. Stephen Hicks said of the piece, "His message was clear: Art is something you p*** on." It has also been noted for having curves like a Buddha or seated Madonna.

Fountain opened the door for conceptual art, which nearly 100 years later, is still prominent.