Relate to avant garde painter (7)

I believe the answer is:

pertain

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'relate to' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'avant garde painter' is the wordplay.
'painter' anagrams to 'PERTAIN'.
Though, I am unsure how this is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pertain that I've seen before include "Be related or applicable (to something)" , "Painter (anag) - relate (to)" , "Have relevance" , "Be relevant, or belong as part" , "Relate (to), apply (to)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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