The European avant-garde refers to innovative and experimental movements in art, literature, and culture that emerged in Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These movements sought to challenge traditional norms and conventions, often embracing radical ideas and new forms of expression. Key examples include Dadaism, Surrealism, and Futurism, which aimed to provoke thought and inspire change. Artists and writers associated with the avant-garde often rejected realism and embraced abstraction, exploring themes of modernity, technology, and the subconscious. Figures like Marcel Duchamp and Virginia Woolf played significant roles in shaping avant-garde thought, influencing future generations and paving the way for contemporary art and literature.