FAUVISMFRENCH FOR ‘WILD BEASTS’

1905-1908

• The first new artistic style of the 20th century and was developed

in France

A style of painting which uses-

• Vivid and non-natural colours• Strong and unified compositions• Expressionistic brush strokes

It was not technically considered as a movement as there were

no absolute rules or memberships.

In 1905 a group of paintings which shared a similar experimental use of colour were exhibited in

Salon d’Automme in Paris.

The Fauves were popular for a short time before the artists

began to utilise new techniques and moved away from this

style.

WHAT IS FAUVISM?

Gipsy Woman by Matisse

Fauvism is heavily inspired by post-impressionism:

•The symbolism of Gauguin •Colour planes used by Cezanne•The bright colours of Van Gogh

Fauves also found objects from Africa and non-western areas to be interesting.

These cultures were not affected by civilization and industrial growth so were

connected to the primal features of nature.

INFLUENCES

Arearea by Gauguin

Mont Sainte- Victoire by Cezanne

Wheatfield with crows by Van Gogh

• Matisse was the leader of the Fauves

• He had experimented with post-impressionism and neo-

impressionism

• Although he found inspiration in Seurat’s work, Matisse thought that the colours had become

muted

• He began to introduce a bold primary palette to his art

MAIN ARTISTS

•André Derain and Maurice de Vlaminck

were also prominent in Fauvism

•Both believed that art should express feeling

towards the subject instead of being

descriptive

•Use of simplified shape and vibrant colour

dominated their artworks

• At first, Fauvism was mocked and ridiculed for its childish elements

• However, major art dealers like Gertrude Stein became interested and it gained respect

• Fauvism had a great influence on many German expressionists

• They showed a similar use of aggressive colouring

• For example this work by Emile Nolde ties together the exaggerated simplicity of Fauvism and the composition of German Gothic

EFFECT OF FAUVISM ON THE ART WORLD

Crucifixion by Emile Nolde

“When I put a green, it is not grass. When I put a blue, it

is not the sky.”

- Matisse

•Fauvism aimed to create a sensation that the viewer could experience rather than just an appreciative

understanding of the scene

•The techniques they used truly captured the naturalistic features of a subject and portrayed these

with great emotion and artistic depth