Final answer:
Les Demoiselles d'Avignon is significant as it marks a radical break from traditional painting, laying the groundwork for Cubism and representing a shift in the Western depiction of space. It was informed by African art, Iberian sculpture, and previous works by artists like Paul Cézanne, signaling the beginning of modern art and influencing 20th-century artists.
Step-by-step explanation:
Significance of Les Demoiselles d'Avignon
Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, created by Pablo Picasso in 1907, is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it marks a radical break from traditional composition and perspective in painting. The work was influenced by Picasso's exposure to African art and Iberian sculptures, as well as the works of Paul Gauguin and Post-Impressionist artist Paul Cézanne. Although not considered Cubism in its purest form, it laid the groundwork for the development of Cubism, co-founded by Picasso and Georges Braque. This painting highlights a shift in the depiction of space and form, moving away from the conventional linear perspective that had dominated Western art for the past five centuries.
The painting also represents a selection of increasingly fragmented compositions that were explored by Picasso during his career. Although Les Demoiselles d'Avignon itself is not a fragmented Cubist composition, it can be seen as a precursor to such works. Picasso's thorough preparation for this painting involved nearly one hundred sketches, which emphasize that, contrary to the belief of spontaneity, the final work was the result of a meticulous development process.
Overall, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon is considered a crucial milestone in the evolution of modern art, bridging the African and Cubist periods of Picasso's work, and signifying a new way of visual representation in art that influenced many artists of the 20th century, including Georges Braque.