Roger Andre de La Fresnaye (French, 1885–1925). Three Young Girls Playing with a Ball, 1909. © CNAC/MNAM/Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Art Resource, NY.

La Fresnaye was influenced by Cubists such as Pablo Picasso but did not have a chance to fully develop as an artist, dying at the age of 40 from tuberculosis contracted during World War I. In this early work, he captures the casual acrobatics of girls playing in the street; with her neck in extreme extension, one of the girls focuses intently on the ball—but curiously makes no move to catch it.