Artists have stirred up controversy, attempted to overturn societal norms, and challenged people’s perspectives throughout history. After all, shouldn’t the goal of an artist be to provide viewers fresh viewpoints through their work? Meet some of the art world’s most audacious provocateurs from recent decades.
Le Dejeuner sur l’Herbe, by Édouard Manet, 1863
The iconic picture by Édouard Manet was turned down by the Salon in Paris in 1863 and displayed at the Salon des Refusés, where it caused quite the commotion. The public and the art community were scandalized by the naked woman’s outspoken presence among fully dressed males wearing the attire of the day. Even Manet’s approach was regarded as disturbing in this picture because he used far harsher contrasts between light and dark than was typical at the time. Le Dejeuner sur l’Herbe by Manet, which defies accepted conventions, is frequently cited as the beginning of modern art.
Fountain by Marcel Duchamp, 1917
Fountain, arguably the most contentious piece of art created in the 20th century, is the prototypical “readymade,” a commonplace item that is elevated to the status of art by the artist. A Urinal was one of the works Marcel Duchamp presented to the newly formed Society of Independent Artists in 1917. Fountain was rejected by Society because it could not be regarded as an artwork. Numerous significant concerns, like “What constitutes a work of art?” and “What function do art institutions serve in defining and classifying art?” were raised by Duchamp’s Fountain. These are the kinds of issues that have influenced contemporary art since the 20th century.
Guernica by Pablo Picasso, 1937
The 1937 murder of a Basque community is shown in Pablo Picasso’s enormous mural Guernica, which has since come to symbolize every city ever attacked. Due to its forceful, critical message, it is one of the most potent artistic protests against fascism and has generated controversy over the years. When it was displayed at the MoMa in 1967, artists petitioned to have it taken down in opposition to the Vietnam War. Picasso refused to put it on display in Spain until justice had been restored there. At the UN in 2003, a tapestry rendition of Guernica was covered up.
1952’s Number 11, Blue Poles, and Jackson Pollock
One of the most significant Abstract Expressionists, Jackson Pollock is most known for his massive “action” paintings, which he created by dripping and splattering paint on large canvases that were placed on the ground. After seeing the tragedies of World War II, Pollock lost faith in humanity and started using his erratic drip paintings to illustrate the insanity of the present human condition. Blue Poles, also known as Number 11, 1952, is arguably his most well-known piece of art. Despite first shocking viewers, Pollock’s radical painting technique was quickly taken by popular culture, which came to represent that era in art. But Pollock continued to be critical of the course and reception of his art.
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Campbell’s Soup Cans by Andy Warhol, 1962
Leading the pop art movement, Andy Warhol rose to prominence as one of the most significant and contentious painters of his era. In his work, he examined the boundaries between popular culture, mass production, and artistic expression. His renowned Campbell’s Soup Cans silkscreen painting from 1962 sparked controversy when it was displayed in Los Angeles; while some people were intrigued, the majority disregarded and despised it. When reflecting on his career, Warhol reportedly quipped, “Everyone only does one painting anyway. I should have just done the Campbell’s Soups and kept doing them.”
Piss Christ by Andres Serrano, 1987
A little plastic cross is shown submerged in a glass tank filled with Serrano’s feces in the shot Piss Christ, which was taken by Andres Serrano in 1987. Because Serrano had received taxpayer-funded financing from the National Endowment for the Arts and because many people thought the performance was blasphemous, the piece sparked a significant scandal and indignation from senators. Serrano received hate mail and threats of death during this time. A reproduction of the artwork was damaged in 2011 when it was on display in Avignon, France.
