Progression of Human Form
Curated by Shahzad Aslam

Marcel Duchamp, Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2, 1912

Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2 combines the geometrical deconstruction and analysis of the cubists and energy and movement of the futurists forming a movement in art history known as surrealism. The work is a testament to the growth and development of the depiction of human form in paintings. Compared to an Impressionist portrayal of form, Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2 lacks all of the features, colors, and realism of a human figure yet lacks none of the emotion. Moreover, Cubist works, such as Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2,  allow for a deeper, more subconscious connection to paintings. Unlike Impressionist works in which the viewer initially knows the subject matter and can compare it to the real world, such cubist works force the viewer to approach the piece open-mindedly. The works often confuse the viewer and provoke natural instinctive reactions to the works, tapping into the subconscious.