Francis Picabia

Francis Picabia (1879-1953), painter, poet, polemicist and screenwriter, became one of the major figures in 20th century art when, in 1908, he gave up being just another extremely gifted young artist who painting "standardized" works. Henceforth, this unfailingly close friend of Marcel Duchamp’s would explore painting to enlarge the field and constantly reinvent it. Blazing new trails, for which he would never stoop to demand the profits and advantages, Picabia refused to fall into line or abide by the rules of the marketplace and good taste. Fully exercising his freedom, he gave expression to all the artists coexisting inside him, without worrying about being followed by the critics or the art dealers. This was an attitude that, even today, disconcerts and disturbs those who are frightened by true creative freedom.