les demoiselles d'avignon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareTechnical/Formal
Quick answer
What does “les demoiselles d'avignon” mean?
The proper title of Pablo Picasso's landmark 1907 painting, widely considered a foundational work of Cubism.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The proper title of Pablo Picasso's landmark 1907 painting, widely considered a foundational work of Cubism.
In an art-historical context, the phrase serves as a metonym for the revolutionary shift from representational to abstract/modern art, the birth of Cubism, and a specific moment of artistic rupture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences; the title is used identically in both art-historical communities.
Connotations
Carries identical connotations of innovation, primitivism, and the fracturing of traditional perspective in art history globally.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language; exclusive to discussions of modern art history. Usage frequency is identical in UK and US academic/art circles.
Grammar
How to Use “les demoiselles d'avignon” in a Sentence
[Subject: Art historian/Critic] + analyses/interprets + 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon''Les Demoiselles d'Avignon' + [Verb: marks/signals/inaugurates] + [Object: the beginning of Cubism/a new era]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “les demoiselles d'avignon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The exhibition aims to contextualise how *Les Demoiselles d'Avignon* shocked its contemporary viewers.
- Curators are conserving *Les Demoiselles d'Avignon* using new non-invasive techniques.
American English
- Scholars continue to debate what *Les Demoiselles d'Avignon* represents about Picasso's psyche.
- The museum will display *Les Demoiselles d'Avignon* alongside its African sources.
adverb
British English
- None applicable.
American English
- None applicable.
adjective
British English
- The *Les Demoiselles d'Avignon* study room is reserved for doctoral researchers.
- Its *Les Demoiselles d'Avignon*-era sketches provide crucial insight.
American English
- The *Les Demoiselles d'Avignon* gallery is the museum's centerpiece.
- He wrote a *Les Demoiselles d'Avignon*-inspired analysis of modern form.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Exclusively used in art history, criticism, and modernism studies. Example: 'The lecture focused on the African influences in *Les Demoiselles d'Avignon*.'
Everyday
Extremely rare; might be mentioned in broad cultural conversation or museum visits.
Technical
Core terminology in art history and museology. Example: 'The conservation report details the craquelure pattern on the lower right quadrant of *Les Demoiselles d'Avignon*.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “les demoiselles d'avignon”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “les demoiselles d'avignon”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “les demoiselles d'avignon”
- Misspelling: 'Demoiselles' (double 'm', single 'l'), 'Avignon' (forgetting the 'g').
- Mispronouncing 'Avignon' with a hard 'g' (/ˈævɪɡnɒn/) instead of the French /aviɲɔ̃/.
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a les demoiselles d'avignon' – incorrect). It is always 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon' (capitalized, with the article).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It translates literally as 'The Young Ladies of Avignon'. However, this translation is misleading, as the title is a proper name for Picasso's painting and does not describe its actual subject matter meaningfully.
In formal academic or art-world settings, an approximation of the French pronunciation (/leɪ ˌdɛmwɑˈzɛl dɑviˈnjɔ̃n/) is expected. In everyday English conversation, pronouncing it as 'lay dem-wah-ZEL dav-in-YON' is generally acceptable.
No. In precise art-historical writing and reference, the full title 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon' should be used. In informal conversation among art enthusiasts, it might be shortened to 'the Demoiselles' after being established in context, but this is not standard practice.
It is considered a pivotal work because it dramatically broke with Renaissance ideals of perspective, proportion, and beauty. Its fragmented, mask-like faces and disjointed space directly challenged representational norms, paving the way for Cubism and abstract art.
The proper title of Pablo Picasso's landmark 1907 painting, widely considered a foundational work of Cubism.
Les demoiselles d'avignon is usually technical/formal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Link the 'Demoiselles' (young ladies) to the distorted figures, and 'Avignon' to the break from tradition (like the Avignon Papacy was a break from Rome). Think: 'Ladies from Avignon broke the picture.'
Conceptual Metaphor
ARTISTIC REVOLUTION IS A FRACTURED MIRROR; MODERNITY IS A PRIMITIVE GAZE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon' exclusively used?