Which artist’s work marked the beginning of Dadaism?

Marcel Duchamp's work is widely recognized as a pivotal point in the development of Dadaism, particularly through his piece "Fountain," which famously consisted of a urinal submitted to an art exhibition in 1917. This act challenged conventional perceptions of art by presenting an everyday object in an artistic context, thereby questioning the very definitions of art itself. Duchamp's embrace of absurdity and anti-art sentiments set the tone for the Dada movement, which emerged as a reaction to the horrors of World War I and aimed to ridicule the status quo in art and society. His contributions were significant in redefining what could be considered art and inspired many future artistic movements, including conceptual art and performance art. Dadaism's foundation relied heavily on the ideas expressed by Duchamp, making him a central figure in this avant-garde movement.