Fauvism

Fauvism, which means "wild beast" in French, is a style of painting that uses expressionistic and bold color. Color (as you can see to the left) is often not realistic in choice. A popular style in Paris around 1905, it was short-lived, but had an important influence on the German Expressionist painters.

Fauvism Artists

André Derain was a French painter and essentially started Fauvism. While he was studying engineering in 1898, he took painting where he met Henri Matisse. He continued to paint scenes in the neighborhood until he joined the military from 1901 -1904. Upon his return, Matisse persuaded Derain's parents to let him pursue painting over engineering. When the Germans took over France in WWII, Derain lived in Paris and the Germans treated him well. They even invited him to come to Nazi Germany to see an exhibit. This act was used as propaganda by the Nazis to show the world that "all was normal and well." However, after the war was over, people called him a Nazi sympathizer and he lost many supporters.

Henri Matisse was a famous modern artist known for his bold colors, patterns, and flat planes. He first started painting at 20 when he was confined to his room with appendicitis. His mother brought him art supplies to keep him entertained. In his later years, when cancer surgery prevented him from standing and painting, he changed mediums to working with collage, where he would cut and assemble paper. He called this "drawing with scissors."

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