Lady GaGa has announced the first single from her new album will be called 'Applause'.

The 27-year-old singer will release the debut track from her hotly-anticipated third studio album 'ARTPOP' on August 19 and she gave fans a small taster by posting the song's artwork on her Twitter page.

Accompanied by a link to the artwork, she tweeted: ''Artwork for new single 'Applause' in HQ.''

Gaga also revealed fans will be able to pre-order 'ARTPOP' - which is released on November 11 - from iTunes on the same day 'Applause' is released.

In another Twitter post, she said: ''Due to public anticipation ITUNES will now offer pre-order for ARTPOP album/app AUG 19 the same day you can purchase my new single 'Applause' (sic)''

The pop superstar appears as a portrait with her face painted white with smudges of blue paint around her eyes and orange, red and yellow paint around her lips and her hair covered in a black scarf.

The photograph was taken by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin and Gaga debuted the image on website Women's Wear Daily with an accompanying interview in which the singer explains the inspiration behind the track and the artwork.

Referring to the photo, she told the online publication: ''When I look at it, I see that there is a longing for the applause. I see that there is a void that is leaking on stage, that the performer is leaking.''

Gaga also discussed the message of what 'ARTPOP' is, saying: ''[I'm not] defined by the same designer or defined by the same hair cut or defined by the same icon. The statement is that I'm not one icon; I'm every icon. I'm an icon that is made out of all the colours on the palette at every time. I have no restrictions.''

Gaga - who has spent months off stage due to hip surgery - will debut 'Applause' live at the MTV Video Music Awards on August 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.