tachisme
C1/C2Technical/Formal (Art History & Criticism)
Definition
Meaning
A style of abstract painting characterised by irregular patches of colour and spontaneous, often blob-like, brushwork, originating in France in the 1940s and 50s. It is the European equivalent of American Abstract Expressionism.
In a broader sense, it can refer to any artistic technique or style that emphasises spontaneous, gestural mark-making, splattering, or dripping of paint, prioritising the act of creation over premeditated form.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is almost exclusively used in the context of 20th-century art history and criticism. It names a specific, historically situated movement. Using it metaphorically (e.g., 'the tachisme of her handwriting') is highly figurative and rare.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is used identically in both art-historical lexicons.
Connotations
Carries connotations of post-war European avant-garde, existential freedom, and a reaction against geometric abstraction. It is a specialist term with no pejorative or colloquial undertones.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general language. Equally rare in both UK and US contexts, confined to academic art discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Tachisme] emerged in [PLACE/TIME].[ARTIST] is associated with [tachisme].The painting is a prime example of [tachisme].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Academic
Frequently used in art history texts, exhibition catalogues, and critiques to categorise a specific mid-century movement.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Precise term for a style within modern art taxonomy; used by curators, conservators, and critics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The tachisme works in the gallery pulsate with energy.
- His later, more tachisme period is less well documented.
American English
- The tachisme section of the museum is my favourite.
- She adopted a tachisme approach for this series.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The museum has a painting from the tachisme movement.
- Tachisme uses lots of different colours in splashes.
- Tachisme, which developed in Paris after the war, emphasised spontaneous brushwork.
- Critics often compare American Action Painting to European tachisme.
- The lyrical tachisme of Hans Hartung contrasts sharply with the more controlled abstraction of his contemporaries.
- While often seen as a purely Parisian phenomenon, tachisme's influence permeated throughout Western Europe in the 1950s.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'tache' (French for stain or blot) + '-isme' (like 'ism'). Tachisme is the 'ism' of making blots and stains of paint.
Conceptual Metaphor
PAINTING IS A PHYSICAL GESTURE / ART IS THE TRACE OF AN ACTION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'ташизм' (tashizm), a direct transliteration which is correct but obscure. The concept is more broadly covered in Russian by 'абстрактный экспрессионизм' (abstract expressionism) or 'лирическая абстракция' (lyrical abstraction).
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈtækɪzəm/ (like 'tacky').
- Confusing it with 'tachometer' or 'tachycardia'.
- Using it as a general synonym for 'messy' or 'abstract'.
- Spelling as 'tachism' (acceptable variant) or 'tashisme'.
Practice
Quiz
Tachisme is most closely related to which other artistic movement?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related parallel movements. Tachisme is the European (primarily French) counterpart to American Abstract Expressionism. Both prioritise spontaneity and gesture, but tachisme is often seen as slightly more lyrical and less aggressive than some Action Painting.
It derives from the French word 'tache', meaning 'stain', 'spot', or 'blot'. Thus, it essentially means 'the style of staining/making blots'.
Prominent figures include Hans Hartung, Pierre Soulages, Georges Mathieu, Wols (Alfred Otto Wolfgang Schulze), and Jean-Paul Riopelle.
Almost exclusively in art history books, academic journals, museum wall texts, auction catalogues, and specialised art criticism. You are highly unlikely to encounter it in general news or conversation.