Fauvism 1905-1907
Introduction
• Les Fauves (French for The Wild Beasts) were a
group of early 20th century modern artists whose
works emphasized strong colour compared to the
realistic values of Impressionism .
• Fauvism as a style began around 1900 and
continued until 1910, but the movement really
lasted only three years, 1905–1907, and had
three exhibitions.
• The leaders of the movement were Henri Matisse
and André Derain.
Matisse: Portrait of Madame
Matisse (The green line)
Historical context
• The artists had their first exhibition at the
1905 Salon d’Automne.
• Art critic Louis Vauxcelles described their
show of work as“Donatello au milieu des
fauves!" ("Donatello among the wild beasts")
• The pictures were criticized but more
especially was Matisse's Woman with a Hat.
Henri Matisse: Woman with a Hat
Techniques and style
• The paintings of the Fauves were characterized by
wild brush work and dramatic colours.
• Subject matter was simplified and abstract.
• Fauvism can be classified as an extreme
development of Van Gogh’s Post Impressionism
fused with pointillism of Seurat.
• Other key influences were Paul Cezanne and Paul
Gauguin whose use of saturated colour
influenced Derain's work.
• Fauvism can also be seen as a mode
ofExpressionism.
Henri Matisse: Les toits de Collioure, 1905,
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia
Henri Matisse: Le bonheur de vivre, 1905-6,
Barnes Foundation, Merion, PA
Henri Matisse: Landscape at Collioure, 1905,
Museum of Modern Art, New York City
Maurice de Vlaminck: The River Seine at Chatou, 1906,
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Henri Matisse: Open Window, Collioure, 1905,
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.
Artists
• Besides Matisse and Derain, other artists
included:
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•
•
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Jean Puy
Maurice de Vlamink
Raoul Dufy
Georges Rouault
Kees van Dongen
Georges Braque(subsequently Picasso's partner in Cubism).
Henri Matisse
Portrait of Madame Matisse (the green line)
• Artist: Henri Matisse
Title: Madame Matisse (The
Green Line)
Date: 1905
Location of Origin: France
Technique: Oil on canvas
Original Size: 16 x 12 3/4 in
Style: Fauves (Fauvism)
Genre: Portrait