Final answer:
Pablo Picasso was inspired by the abstract nature of traditional West African art, most notably in his painting Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, which initiated his African Period and contributed to the development of Cubism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The artist who was inspired by the abstract nature of traditional West African art is Pablo Picasso. Picasso's interaction with African art played a pivotal role during his African Period, particularly influencing his seminal work Les Demoiselles d'Avignon in 1907. Pablo Picasso was inspired by the abstract nature of traditional West African art, most notably in his painting Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, which initiated his African Period and contributed to the development of Cubism.
This masterpiece is characterized by figures with geometric forms and faces reminiscent of African masks, representing a radical break from traditional European painting and serving as a bridge to Picasso's later development of Cubism. His exposure to African artifacts, combined with the influence of Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin, resulted in the integration of primitivist elements within his work.