Une litote: an ironical understatement in which a thought is disguised in such a way that one must guess its meaning, thus giving it more significance than if it were simply and straightforwardly expressed; e.g., an affirmative that is expressed by the negative of its contrary. If the rhetorical device were applied to the plastic arts, then it would neatly fit into the suitcases carried by the fantasmagorique figures of French sculpture Bruno Catalano. Van Gogh, in part, is represented here on a sidewalk in the Normandie port town of Honfleur.
Vocabulary
une litote: a litotes
un sous entendu: an understatement
fantasmagorique: phantasmagoric
©2012 P.B. Lecron
Fascinating sculpture, this really has so many deeper meanings. I love the "d'Art" you captured just over his shoulder. Nice!
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