phrase
French
Avant-Garde
lit. “vanguard, advance guard”
Experimental, ahead of the established artistic mainstream.
Origin
Originally a military term for the front line of an advancing army. Repurposed in 19th-century French criticism to describe innovative artists, then adopted across art, music, fashion, and film.
Modern usage
Mostly in arts criticism, though it leaks into fashion and tech talk ('an avant-garde interface').
Tags
art
innovation