Generative Art Timeline · Chapter 2: Modern Era (1850–1949)
1917
Fountain by Marcel Duchamp

Considered by many to be the first conceptual artwork, a key predecessor of digital generative art, this ready-made of a urinal remains one of the most important works in twentieth century art. Fountain exemplifies the irreverence of Dada and continues to influence any Deleuzian art form that challenges traditional conventions
Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random.
Sources
People
Movements
conceptual art, Dadaism, Ready-made
Filed under
- Ideas
- conceptual art, Dadaism, Ready-made
- People
- Marcel Duchamp
- Works
- Fountain
Echoes across time
- 2005 · Part Object Part Sculpture, Columbus, Ohio
- 1967 · Sol LeWitt Defines Conceptual Art in Print
- 2014 · Is Art by Rhea Myers
Le Random editorials
- What Was the AI Psychosis Summit?, Kevin Esherick, July 27, 2026
- THE PEOPLE ARE IN THE COMPUTER—PART I, Peter Bauman, March 19, 2025
- Joan Heemskerk on Quantum Web4, Peter Bauman, September 10, 2024
- New York City Digital Art Guide, LoVid, Emily Edelman, Josh Yakov, Peter Bauman, May 5, 2025
Le Random podcast
- Timeline Ch 2—Modern Era with Kate Vass — listen with transcript on Le Random (20 Jul 2023, 58 min). Transcript mentions Marcel Duchamp. Chapter 2’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 9—AI Era (2010s) with Tyler Hobbs, Helena Sarin, Rhea Myers & Gene Kogan — listen with transcript on Le Random (30 Jul 2024, 51 min). Transcript mentions Marcel Duchamp. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 10—On-Chain Era (2020s) with Erick Calderon, Lauren Lee McCarthy, Itzel Yard & Rafael Lozano-Hemmer — listen with transcript on Le Random (02 Sep 2024, 63 min). Transcript mentions Marcel Duchamp. Apple Podcasts · Spotify