Definition

Noun: 1. A member of the Les Fauves: A person who was part of an early 20th-century group of French artists known for their use of vivid, non-naturalistic, and often dissonant colors. The term literally means "wild beast" in French.

Usage

The word fauve is used almost exclusively in an art historical context to identify an artist belonging to that specific movement. * Henri Matisse is considered the leading fauve. * The exhibition features works by several fauves, including André Derain and Maurice de Vlaminck.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used attributively (like an adjective) to describe the style or period of the artist.
  • His fauve period is characterized by explosive color.
  • She studied the fauve painters of the early 1900s.

Variants and Related Words

• Fauvism (noun): The style or movement associated with the , characterized by bold, often arbitrary color.
  • Fauvism was a short-lived but influential movement.
• Fauvist (noun/adjective): A synonym for ; can be used as a noun for a member or as an adjective describing the style.
  • As a noun: He was a key Fauvist.
  • As an adjective: The painting has a Fauvist palette.

Synonyms

• Fauvist (noun)

Notes on Meaning

• The word is highly specific. It does not have a general meaning of "wild beast" in modern English usage outside of this art context. Its meaning is entirely tied to the historical art group.

Noun

1. a member of a group of French painters who followed fauvism