Andre Derain - Fauvist Painter and Sculptor

The uber-colorful, Fauvist painter Andre Derain was born on this day, June 10, 1880 on the outskirts of Paris, France.

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  He met Henri Matisse while studying to be an engineer at the Academie Camillo.  During the summer of 1905, the two painted together and then exhibited their highly innovative pieces at the Salon D'Automne.  The art critic Louis Vauxcelles described their paintings as Les Fauves or "the wild beasts" because of the vivid, unnatural colors and the Fauvist Period was launched.

Derain was commissioned by noted art dealer Ambroise Vollard to travel to London in 1906 and compose a series of paintings with the city as his subject.  His interpretation of London was fresh, daring and had never been seen before.  Through the use of bold colors and unusual compositions, he portrayed the Thames River and Tower Bridge in exciting new ways.

This beautiful painting - Charing Cross Bridge London 1906 - was exemplary of the daring that he exhibited.

The Big Ben - 1906 - demonstrated his ability to use pointillist techniques.

Derain's financial stability was secured in 1907 when art dealer Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler purchased his entire studio, allowing him the freedom to devote himself wholeheartedly to his art.  He then moved to Montemarte to be closer to his friend Pablo Picasso.  During this next significant phase of his life, he shifted away from his Fauvist roots (and color palette) and began using more muted tones (like those used by Paul Cezanne and the Cubists.)  According to Gertrude Stein,  Derain discovered and was influenced by African sculpture before the Cubists were.  Derain supplied woodcuts in primitivist style for Apollianaire's first book of prose in 1909.

Below is one of his most famous sculptures - Crouching Man, 1906.

Window on the Park 1912

Portrait of a Man With a Newspaper 1914

In 1912, Derain's style evolved yet again, embracing a more tradtional and structured approach to painting. He frequented the Louvre and studied works by many of the Renaissance artists, the Old Masters.  Between 1914-1918  he served during World War I .  When he returned home he became the leader of the renewed classicism movement and even created elaborately traditional sets for the Ballet - Le Boutique Fantasque for Diaghilev, leader of the Ballets Russes.  

The 1920's saw his works exhibited all over the world.  He created many more set and costumes designs for the Paris Opera during the 1930's  He continued to paint, design sets and illustrate books up until the time of his death, despite his failing eyesight.  Derain was struck by a car and killed in 1954.