avant-garde / vanguard
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avant-garde
A group of artists, writers, or thinkers who introduce new and experimental ideas and methods and are ahead of their time.
Die Werke der russischen Avantgarde zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts revolutionierten die Malerei.
The works of the Russian avant-garde at the beginning of the 20th century revolutionized painting.
vanguard
The advance guard of an army or movement; the group that goes ahead and prepares the way for the main forces that follow.
Die Avantgarde der Truppen sicherte die Brücke, bevor der Rest der Armee den Fluss überquerte.
The vanguard of the troops secured the bridge before the rest of the army crossed the river.
'Avantgarde' (avant-garde/vanguard) is a loanword from French and literally means 'advance guard'. This original military meaning also explains its figurative use for artists who are ahead of their time.
Der Begriff „Avantgarde“ wird sowohl im Militär als auch in der Kunst verwendet.
The term 'Avantgarde' (avant-garde/vanguard) is used both in the military and in art.
You can recognize the meaning from context. If it is about art, literature, or new ideas, it refers to the group of forward thinkers. In texts about the military or strategy, it means the advance guard of an army.
Diese Künstlerin gehörte zur Avantgarde der modernen Malerei.
This artist belonged to the avant-garde of modern painting.
In an artistic context, the word is often used with verbs such as 'gehören zu' (to belong to) or 'zählen zu' (to be counted among). Combinations such as 'künstlerische Avantgarde' (artistic avant-garde) or 'literarische Avantgarde' (literary avant-garde) are also common.
Er zählte zur literarischen Avantgarde seiner Zeit.
He was counted among the literary avant-garde of his time.
Especially in the meaning related to art and culture, 'Avantgarde' (avant-garde) belongs to a more educated or intellectual style of language. It often sounds more sophisticated than 'Vordenker' (forward thinkers) or 'Pioniere' (pioneers).
Die Ausstellung widmet sich der europäischen Avantgarde nach 1945.
The exhibition is devoted to the European avant-garde after 1945.
