André Derain

André Derain
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Name	André Derain
Caption	Derain in 1903
Birth date	10 June 1880
Birth place	Chatou, Yvelines, France
Death date	8 September 1954
Death place	Garches, Hauts-de-Seine, France
Nationality	French
Known for	Painting, sculpture
Movement	Fauvism, Post-Impressionism
Notable works	The Pool of London, Charing Cross Bridge, London, The Turning Road, L'Estaque

André Derain. A pivotal French painter, sculptor, and co-founder of Fauvism, Derain was instrumental in the early 20th-century avant-garde. His bold, non-naturalistic use of color alongside contemporaries like Henri Matisse and Maurice de Vlaminck created a radical break from Impressionism. While his style later evolved towards a more classical and somber tone, his early innovations secured his lasting influence on modern art.

Early life and education

Born in the suburban town of Chatou, a popular spot for Impressionist painters, Derain showed an early interest in art against his family's wishes. He began his formal training in 1898 at the Académie Camillo, where he met Henri Matisse, and later studied briefly at the Académie Julian. During this period, he formed a crucial friendship with fellow artist Maurice de Vlaminck, with whom he shared a studio in Chatou and a passion for the vibrant works of Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. These early encounters and studies laid the groundwork for his revolutionary approach to color and form.

Fauvism and early career

Derain's collaboration with Henri Matisse during the summer of 1905 in Collioure culminated in the explosive debut of Fauvism at the Salon d'Automne that same year. Critic Louis Vauxcelles famously derided their brightly colored canvases as the work of "wild beasts," or "Fauves." Key works from this period, such as his views of London commissioned by art dealer Ambroise Vollard, including The Pool of London and Charing Cross Bridge, London, used intense, arbitrary color to convey light and emotion. This period also saw his involvement with the circle at the Bateau-Lavoir in Montmartre and his growing interest in the art of Paul Cézanne and African art, which influenced his structured compositions.

Later work and stylistic evolution

After 1908, Derain's style shifted dramatically away from Fauvism towards a more restrained, classical approach influenced by Old Master painting and his study of Cubism. He engaged with the artistic community in Montparnasse and was influenced by his friendships with figures like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. His work from this period, often described as "Gothic," featured earthy palettes, solid forms, and themes drawn from mythology and portraiture, as seen in his illustrations for Guillaume Apollinaire's book L'Enchanteur pourrissant. This classical revival aligned him with the broader return to order movement following World War I.

Legacy and influence

Derain's legacy is complex, marked by his foundational role in Fauvism and his subsequent turn to tradition. His early, radical use of pure color directly influenced later movements like German Expressionism and paved the way for abstract art. Despite controversies later in his life, including his acceptance of an official invitation to visit Nazi Germany in 1941, his contributions to modernism remain significant. Major institutions such as the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, the Centre Pompidou, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City hold his works, ensuring his continued study and exhibition.

Personal life and death

Derain married Alice Princet in 1907, and the couple had a wide social circle that included many leading artists and writers of the day. He lived for many years in Chambourcy before moving to Garches. His later years were marred by the controversy of his wartime activities and declining health. He died in 1954 in Garches from injuries sustained in a traffic accident, and was buried in the Cimetière de Chambourcy. His studio and artistic estate were managed by his longtime companion, the painter Raymonde Derain.

Category:French painters Category:Fauvism Category:1880 births Category:1954 deaths