Artists, musicians, or thinkers who create experimental, unconventional work ahead of mainstream trends; the cutting edge of innovation in art and culture.
From French 'avant-garde' (front guard in military terms), literally 'before the guard.' Originally used to describe the vanguard of a military force, it was adopted by 19th-century artists to describe those leading the charge into new creative territory.
It's wild that a military term for the soldiers at the very front of an army became the ultimate compliment for rule-breaking artists—it perfectly captures how creativity requires courage to march ahead of everyone else!
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