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artist   —   artiste   —   artisan

[slightly different pronunciation]

Artist” is ‘a painter, sculptor of great talent’.  It is also used for ‘experts or very talented practitioners of any other art, or of occupations such as carpentry, pottery, etc.’,

artist

e.g.

This painting was drawn by the famous artist Picasso.

He is not an ordinary carpenter; he is an artist. Look, how beautiful the table is!

Artiste” is ‘a professional entertainer such as a singer, actor, musician, etc.’,

Woody Allen, very talented actor, director, musican, etc.
Woody Allen, very talented actor, director, musican, etc.

e.g.

There is a famous artiste being interviewed on tonight’s TV show.

Artiste” is not used to refer to a classical musician.  “Artiste” is replaced by ‘artist’ in the contemporary English.

Artisan” is ‘a worker skilled at making things, using more of manual dexterity; a craftsman’,

an artisan (blacksmith) at work
an artisan (blacksmith) at work

Compare:

A painter of a picture or portrait is an artist; a painter of a building is an artisan; a stonemason is an artisan, a sculptor is an artist; and a film actor who plays the roles of an artist and/or an artisan is an artiste!

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About the Author:BC Kumar

BC Kumar, an English Language Teacher, taught in numerous countries including Ethiopia, Oman and India, shares his knowledge and passion for the English Language. Disclaimer: This is a free educational website and all content has been compiled by the author. All copyrights to images and videos belong to their respective owners.

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