In the 1970s, Jeff Koons was beginning his journey as an artist, exploring the boundaries of art with his early works and experimenting with concepts that would define his career. Salvador Dalí, known for his Surrealist creations, was an early idol of Koons. It was during his time at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, starting in 1972, that Koons began to immerse himself in the works of other art-historical figures like Manet and Braque. This period marked the start of Koons experimenting with the convergence of Surrealist and Cubist influences, evident in his 1974 painting where he depicted a girl holding a decapitated Picasso-esque head. This piece symbolized the blend of violence and theatricality, reminiscent of classical narratives like Samson and Delilah​ (Artnet News)​. By the late 1970s, after Koons moved to New York, he created the "Inflatables" series, which represented a key moment in his artistic development. These works, made shortly after his arrival in New York in 1977, utilized brightly colored vinyl inflatables that Koons found to possess an anthropomorphic quality, reflecting human traits and emotions. Koons was fascinated by their sexual charge and their representation of life's optimism and inevitable decline, exploring themes of existence and materialism through the lens of everyday objects. This approach was influenced by Marcel Duchamp's concept of the readymade, taking ordinary objects and recontextualizing them as art, a practice that would become a cornerstone of Koons' artistic philosophy​ (Whitney Museum of American Art)​. During this era, Koons was also engaging with the readymade in a manner that connected with Duchamp's legacy, using the everyday world as the subject matter for his art. His interest in found objects and how they could be filtered through art highlighted a significant aspect of his work, marking the beginning of his exploration into the relationships between art, society, and consumer culture​ (Whitney Museum of American Art)​. The artworks from the 1970s, such as "Inflatable Flower (Tall Purple)" and "Toaster," showcased Koons' early experimentation with consumer goods and everyday objects, setting the stage for his later works that would challenge the art world's conventions​ (Art21)​. This period was crucial in establishing Jeff Koons as an artist who continually seeks to communicate complex themes through accessible imagery, bridging the gap between high art and popular culture.