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panier de maintien
Jan 10, 2007 11:07
17 yrs ago
French term

une note franche

French to English Other History Émile Gallé
La faïence de Nancy n'est réminiscente que des champs et des bois. Les bordures de ses vases sont des simplifications de plantes symboliques et d'animaux, simplifications exigées par les procédés du décor adopté, la gravure ou l'émail : ainsi, sur un fond d'émail moutonné comme un ciel matinal, se dressent des thyrses d'aconit aux teintes fausses, livides, inquiétantes, où l'azur d'une aile de papillon jette une note franche.
Proposed translations (English)
3 stands out in its purity
4 +1 a spark of truth
3 +1 clean, clear, neat ?
4 a pure, fresh note/tone
3 a breath of fresh air
2 shows as a highlight for realism

Discussion

blavatsky Jan 10, 2007:
If possible can you supply the title of the poem and its first and last stanzas. It would be much appreciated.
blavatsky Jan 10, 2007:
I am intigued Dave. Would I be able to see the sentence which follows this ?
Julie Barber Jan 10, 2007:
In relation to my comments on Odette's answer, perhaps 'true' colour - which contrasts with the unpure/mixed colours (fausses)
Tony M Jan 10, 2007:
Shame, would have helped a lot, and avoided a lot of hazardous guesswork!
David West (asker) Jan 10, 2007:
Hi Tony M, there's no picture of the vase unfortunately.
Tony M Jan 10, 2007:
... or it might just be "stands out", "shines forth" etc. And watch out for that "moutonné", it usually means "dotted with fluffy white clouds", but can't quite imagine what this vase actually looks like! Some kind of mottled effect?
Tony M Jan 10, 2007:
Dave, I'd go for "amongst which" rather than "onto" for the "où", and I'm not sure about "pure light" — it could be a note of truth as Odette suggest (contrasting with "fausses") because it is the only realistic colour; ...
David West (asker) Jan 10, 2007:
Therefore, on a base of enamel covered like a morning sky, thyrses of monkshood stand up with false, livid, disturbing shades, onto which the azure of a butterfly’s wing throws a pure light. ?

Proposed translations

6 hrs
Selected

stands out in its purity

a more liberal way of expressing "note franche" in this context
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks"
+1
1 min

clean, clear, neat ?

just an idea
Peer comment(s):
agree Julie Barber : clear-cut......or clean...
2 hrs
thks
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3 mins

a breath of fresh air

If you want an idiomatic expression...
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+1
18 mins

a spark of truth

throws out...
Peer comment(s):
agree BrigitteHilgner : Given the context, I find this translation most appropriate.
27 mins
thank you
neutral Julie Barber : sorry, I can't see why it would be truth for a visual image..\ I understand it to be a description of artwork/paint on ceramics, a clear stroke of colour. It may be a pretty description but it's not poetry as such, it's visual art related
2 hrs
because it is poetry and the term is in association with the context (a spark of truth is a visual image)
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3 hrs

a pure, fresh note/tone

in contrast to: "des thyrses d'aconit aux teintes fausses, livides, inquiétantes"
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5 hrs

shows as a highlight for realism

just a suggestion
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