Marcel Duchamp Fountain urinal conceptual art

A urinal could become art

In 1917, Marcel Duchamp presented a urinal as the sculpture *Fountain*. The idea was that an ordinary object could count as art because it was presented and regarded as art, not because it had built-in artistic qualities.

Switzerland's modern federation emerged from a civil war lasting weeks

In 1847, a conflict between Switzerland's cantons ended in less than a month with relatively few deaths compared with many European civil wars. The victorious federal forces helped clear the way for the constitution of 1848. Switzerland became a more unified federal state while retaining substantial powers for its cantons.

Japan gave the Ainu citizenship while suppressing their culture

A Japanese law passed in 1899 made the Ainu Japanese citizens while putting their land under government control and pushing them to adopt Japanese culture. Ainu language, religion, and customs were suppressed, so citizenship came together with the loss of many rights as a distinct Indigenous people.

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Marcel Duchamp Fountain urinal conceptual art

A urinal could become art

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