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objet trouve

/ɔbʒɛ truˈveɪ/
IPA guide

Other forms: objets trouves

An objet trouve is an object found somewhere by accident, which is then considered from an artistic viewpoint. That could be anything from a pine needle to a tire, shown as art on its own or used for a larger piece.

The term objet trouve comes from French and means "found object." It is also used as a name for the artistic concept. Art using such found objects was first popularized by artists like Marcel Duchamp: It is often intended to make us think about what counts as "art," or to make us think about what beauty can be found in normal objects that we're used to seeing all around us.

Definitions of objet trouve
  1. noun
    an ordinary item, such as a feather or a key, usually picked up by chance, used for art or considered by itself as a piece of art
    synonyms: found object
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