This document provides context on art movements in the early-to-mid 20th century, including Dadaism, Surrealism, and the beginnings of Abstract Expressionism. It discusses key figures like Marcel Duchamp who pioneered readymades and the concept of choosing everyday objects as art. The effects of World War II are also noted, leading to new movements in the postwar period like Action Painting in New York which emerged as a new center of the global art world.