fauvism
UK[ˈfəʊvɪzəm]US[ˈfoʊvɪzəm]
n
a style of painting with vivid, non-naturalistic colours, associated with a group of early 20th-century french artists.
Morpheme Breakdown
fauv
ism
fauv
wild beast
ism
doctrine, movement
Etymology
the term fauvism derives from the french word 'fauve', meaning wild beast, which itself originates from the old frankish term 'falw-', related to the latin 'fallere' (to deceive) in the sense of a wild, tawny-colored animal. the french critic louis vauxcelles coined the name 'les fauves' (the wild beasts) in 1905 to disparage the group of artists for their bold, seemingly untamed use of color. the suffix '-ism', borrowed from greek via latin, denotes a distinctive practice, system, or artistic movement, thus solidifying 'fauvism' as the label for this revolutionary style characterized by its expressive and non-naturalistic color palette.
Analysis
Structure: fauv (wild beast) + ism (doctrine, movement)
fauv (from french 'fauve', meaning wild beast, of germanic origin); ism (suffix forming nouns of action, system, or doctrine, from greek '-ismos' via latin '-ismus').
Examples
henri matisse is often considered the leading figure of fauvism.
the gallery is hosting a special exhibition on the influence of fauvism on modern art.
her early work shows clear traces of fauvism, with its vibrant, emotive colours.