Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A surname of French origin: "Lachaise" is a family name, most famously associated with the 20th-century sculptor Gaston Lachaise.
   • Reference to Gaston Lachaise: In an artistic and historical context, "Lachaise" specifically refers to the American sculptor Gaston Lachaise, known for his monumental, sensual, and often nude female figures.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The museum acquired a major work by Lachaise for its modern sculpture garden.
  • Scholars study the influence of European modernism on Lachaise's American work.

Advanced Usage

• "Lachaise-esque" (informal/adjectival form): describing artwork or forms that resemble the style of Gaston Lachaise, characterized by voluptuous, flowing, and powerful figurative sculpture.
  • The artist's new bronze figures have a distinctly Lachaise-esque quality.

Variants and Related Words

• Lachaisean (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of Gaston Lachaise or his sculptural style.
  • The lecture focused on the Lachaisean ideal of the female form.

Synonyms

• Sculptor: A general term for an artist who creates sculptures. (Gaston Lachaise was a sculptor.)
• Figurative artist: An artist who represents the human form.

Notes on Meaning

• The word "Lachaise" is almost exclusively used as a proper noun referring to the person, Gaston Lachaise. It is not a common noun with a general definition.
• It should not be confused with "Père Lachaise," which is the name of a famous cemetery in Paris. While sharing a linguistic root, they refer to different entities.

Noun

1. United States sculptor (born in France) noted for his large nude figures (1882-1935)