Term
Avant-garde
An umbrella term for artistic movements that deliberately challenge the established forms, norms and institutions of their time.
- Category
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- Index letter
- A
Understanding the term
The word originally means advance guard and is used historically for circles seeking to change both art and its role in society. What feels avant-garde depends on its moment; yesterday's rupture may later become part of tradition.
When Avant-garde appears in a description, the term helps specify a work's form, status or history. Its precise meaning should always be read alongside information about material, technique, date and origin.
Specialist terminology is most useful when it can be supported. Signatures, labels, edition numbers, documentation and visible traces in the object can all help establish whether a term is accurate in a particular case.
Related entries
Continue through the glossary with terms from the same field.