Eric Bourdon - Blog
Zigoto

Zoom on the painting

Zigoto

Original acrylic painting on linen canvas
Artwork size : 9.45 x 6.30” / 24 x 16 cm

© Gallery of painter Eric Bourdon
Lille, France, 2023

     “Zigoto”, acrylic on linen canvas : the mature work of Eric Bourdon ?…

     Zigoto : fanciful character, with extravagant behavior. Synonyms : zigomar, zig(ue)… A guy (without value judgement). A strong, energetic man. Synonym : zigotteau. Pejoratively, an unsavory individual, lacking seriousness. Synonyms : a joke, a jerk, a weirdo. Act like a zigoto : behave in an extravagant manner. Synonyms : act smart, stand out, show off, get noticed, draw attention.

“What are you doing here ? Get the hell out of here ! Who are these zigotos ?… were some of the expressions used against us by people who were passing by.”

Jean L’Hôte
La Communale, Seuil, 1957, reissue J’ai Lu, page 138

Zoom on the starting doodle

     ‘Zigoto’ (c. 1900) is a derivative of ‘zigue’ with the popular suffix ‑oto.

     ‘Zigue’ (19th century) is an alteration of ‘gigue’, thigh (see the French word ‘gigot’) designating an individual by metonymy.

“You’re a good zigue and you know how to talk. Come on, I’m your man.”

Guillaume Apollinaire
Les Onze Mille Verges, 1907, chapter IV

   Zigoto | Peinture acrylique sur lin