When Pablo Picasso first saw African masks at the Trocadéro Museum in Paris, he was deeply affected. Shortly after, he completed 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon,' which departed radically from European artistic conventions. The angular faces in this painting bore unmistakable similarities to the masks he had viewed, marking a turning point in modern art.
Based on the text, it can be inferred that
Picasso never visited any museums
African art had no influence on European modernism
exposure to different artistic traditions can inspire creative innovation
'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon' was painted before Picasso saw the masks
Correct Answer: C
Choice C is the best answer. The African masks directly influenced Picasso's groundbreaking work.
- Context clues: He saw masks, was "deeply affected," then created a work that "departed radically" with similar features.
- Meaning: The sequence shows cross-cultural exposure sparked innovation.
- Verify: The "unmistakable similarities" confirm the influence of African art.
💡 Strategy: When a sequence shows exposure followed by change, infer a causal connection.
Choice A is incorrect because he visited the Trocadéro Museum. Choice B is incorrect because the African masks clearly influenced his work. Choice D is incorrect because the painting came "shortly after" seeing the masks.