artiest

Artiest is a Dutch noun used to denote a performer in the performing arts and entertainment industry. It covers people who present work to the public, such as singers, actors, comedians, dancers, and musicians, whether on stage, on screen, or through other media. The term emphasizes public performance rather than the creation of art in a studio or workshop.

Distinction from related terms: In Dutch, kunstenaar refers to a visual or fine artist who creates art, often in a non-performance context. An individual can be both, but the typical usage keeps artiest and kunstenaar separate: an artiest is a performer, while a kunstenaar is a creator of visual or conceptual art. In everyday language, artiest is commonly associated with show business and pop culture, whereas kunstenaar is linked to painting, sculpture, and similar disciplines.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from the French artiste and entered Dutch through early modern usage. It is used in both the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders) and forms compounds such as popartiest, theaterartiest, and cabaretartiest. The plural is artiesten. The term is generally gender-neutral in contemporary Dutch, though historical language sometimes reflected gendered forms.

See also: Artist; Performer; Kunstenaar.