How did Marcel Duchamp’s ideas help inspire conceptual art?

Marcel Duchamp’s influence on conceptual art stems primarily from his invention of the ready-made—everyday, mass-produced objects designated as art by the artist. By selecting these items rather than fabricating them, Duchamp challenged the traditional status of the art object and rejected the notion that art must be a unique, material creation.12

His approach shifted the definition of art from a physical process to an intellectual one, emphasizing the artist's idea over the final product. This transition toward "aggressive intellectualism" and the rejection of purely "retinal" (visual) art provided a foundational framework for conceptual art, which emerged in the 1960s. By demonstrating that the act of choosing and naming an object could constitute an artistic gesture, Duchamp fundamentally changed the role of the artist and paved the way for movements that prioritize concepts and critical inquiry over traditional craftsmanship.1324