Les Cahiers de l'École du Louvre (May 2021)

Pour une approche génétique de l'ébauche

  • Floriane Philippe

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4000/cel.15115
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16

Abstract

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The terms “ébauche” and “esquisse” occupy a central place in the French artistic lexicon. However, their use is surrounded by a certain amount of confusion : their meaning remains unclear, and they are often treated as synonyms, even by art historians and museum professionals. This article proposes a lexical and material study of the “ébauche” establishing the bases for a working definition for art historians. It examines the causes of the confusion, distinguishing a technical use of the term from an aesthetic or metaphorical one. How and under what conditions can the “ébauche” become an object of study for art history ? Only a genetic approach, centred on the creative processes, allows a precise comprehension of the phenomenon of the “ébauche”.

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