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The term modern art sounds like it means art that is popular at the moment, but in fact, modern art is a style that originated over 150 years ago, and includes artists that by now have attained classic status, such as Picasso, Matisse, and Gauguin. And what’s even more ironic (讽刺的) is that the movement they pioneered, considered revolutionary at the time, was inspired largely by an object of a traditional and ancient design.

As far back as the Renaissance, the primary European art movements emphasized conventional representation and adherence (遵循) to classical forms. But that began to change in the late 19th century as artists like Van Gogh and Cezanne expanded the boundaries of painting. Soon, a movement arose that sought to create an entirely new style of art, and one way of doing so was to look beyond Western civilization.

Henri Matisse showed his friend Picasso a mask he had acquired made by the Dan tribe of the Ivory Coast. The mask awoke Picasso’s curiosity, leading him to visit the Trocadero Ethnographic Museum in Paris in 1907. The visit was eye-opening for Picasso, who declared that African masks were what painting was all about. At this time, Picasso had been working on a painting of five naked women in a style that would later come to be known as Cubism. And while three of these ladies show facial features found in ancient Iberian art, a nod to Picasso’s Spanish heritage, the faces of the two on the right closely resemble African masks. Created in 1907 after hundreds of sketches and studies, “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” has been considered the first truly 20th century masterpiece, breaking with many previously held notions in art.

Inspiration from ancient cultures started one of the most revolutionary movements in art history, but were these artists playing the role of explorers or conquerors, stealing ideas and profiting from cultures they considered primitive? Questions like this deserve scrutiny (审查), as artists continue to redefine standards. Perhaps not too long from now, the bold innovations (单新) of modern art will be overturned by a new set of pioneers drawing inspiration from another unlikely source.

1.The style of European art didn’t experience any changes until__________

A.artists turned to nature for inspiration.

B.artists looked beyond western civilization.

C.artists began to emphasize self-expression.

D.artists expanded the boundaries of painting.

2.What can we learn about “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon”?

A.It combined different cultural elements.

B.Its distinctive style invited much criticism.

C.It broke away from all conventional styles.

D.It was inspired by a visit to the Ivory Coast.

3.What does the author try to convey in the last paragraph?

A.Artistic creation involves imitation and innovation.

B.The pioneering role of modern artists is questionable.

C.Drawing inspiration from different cultures is essential.

D.It’s vital that the standards of art should change constantly.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.A Glimpse into Modern European Art

B.The Pioneering Figures of Modern Art

C.Why We Should Redefine Modern Art

D.How Ancient Art Influenced Modern Art

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题

少年,再来一题如何?
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