Dadaism was an avant-garde art movement that emerged in the early 20th century, primarily in response to the horrors of World War I. It rejected traditional aesthetics and embraced chaos, absurdity, and irrationality, often using unconventional materials and techniques. Artists like Marcel Duchamp and Hannah Höch challenged the norms of art, creating works that questioned the very definition of what art could be. The movement was characterized by its playful and often provocative nature, utilizing collage, photomontage, and performance art. Dadaism aimed to disrupt the status quo and provoke thought, making it a significant precursor to later movements such as Surrealism and Conceptual Art.