Fauvism’s 10 Key Paintings: Matisse, Derain, and the Wild Beasts
At the 1905 Salon d'Automne, the term "Fauves," meaning "wild beasts," was coined by critic Louis Vauxcelles to describe a cohort of innovative artists, including Henri Matisse and André Derain. This event signaled the emergence of Fauvism, an influential avant-garde movement that persisted until 1908. Characterized by vibrant colors and straightforward forms, Fauvism drew inspiration from Post-Impressionism, particularly the works of Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. Noteworthy pieces from this period include Maurice de Vlaminck's "Restaurant de la Machine à Bougival," Derain's "Big Ben," and Matisse's "Goldfish," showcasing a commitment to beauty above political themes.
Key facts
- Louis Vauxcelles coined the term 'les fauves' at the 1905 Salon d'Automne.
- The Fauvist movement lasted from 1905 to 1908.
- Key Fauvist artists included Henri Matisse, André Derain, Maurice de Vlaminck, Kees van Dongen, and Albert Marquet.
- Fauvism was influenced by the color use of Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin.
- Gustave Moreau taught Henri Matisse, Albert Marquet, and Georges Rouault, emphasizing pure color.
- Fauvist paintings featured flat planes of color, simplified forms, and no third dimension.
- Henri Matisse's 'The Dance' (1910) uses only red, green, and blue to create rhythm.
- Fauvism deliberately avoided political or social agendas, focusing on color's expressive joy.
Entities
Artists
- Henri Matisse
- Maurice de Vlaminck
- André Derain
- Kees van Dongen
- Albert Marquet
- Georges Rouault
- Henri Manguin
- Vincent van Gogh
- Paul Gauguin
- Gustave Moreau
- Wassily Kandinsky
- Claude Monet
- Louis Vauxcelles
Institutions
- Salon d'Automne
- Musée d'Orsay
- Centre national d'art et de culture Georges-Pompidou
- National Gallery of Art
- Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
- The State Hermitage Museum
Locations
- Paris, France
- France
- Washington, D.C., United States
- United States
- Moscow, Russia
- Russia
- Saint Petersburg, Russia
- London, United Kingdom
- United Kingdom
- Morocco
- Bougival, France
- Trouville, France