Fauvism - rise of the wild beasts in the word of art - Part 2

To read part -1, click on this button

Abstract of Part-1

Movement in painting that led the charge toward well-known 20th-century painting styles, such as Cubism and Expressionism, was Fauvism. A painting movement focused on personal expression that developed in France during the early 20th century. A Movement that Changed the Definition of Art!

Let’s discuss the unanswered questions of Part-1

Can anyone imagine to paint?

A blue nose!

A green & red beard!

Pink trees !

All of these ideas, which express the feelings of the artist through a somewhat irrational use of color, create the Fauvist style. Fauvist has Freedom of choice & subjectivity, they took everyday subject matters.

A story that started from fishing village of Collioure, reached the Salon and then transformed into a significant movement.

A few classic examples of Fauvist paintings

Woman with a hat by Henri Matisse

A painting by Henri Matisse. An oil on canvas, it depicts Matisse's wife, Amelie. It was painted in 1905 and exhibited at the Salon d'Automne during the fall of the same year, along with works by André Derain. A very colourful depiction. Here he painted the shadows in various colourtones. Different shadows in different shades. The inner folds on the dress he filled with different colours too. Notice that blue Nose. The shadows cast on her face are indicated with strokes of dark green, where the highlights on her cheekbone, ear, and neck are made with dabs of fiery orange.

A study of shadows tells that it is not plain black, but it has its own hues. Because shadow doesn’t mean lack of light, it means less light.

Green & red beard

Portrait of Henri Matisse

It is the portrait of HENRI METTISSE painted by Derain!

This work was made during a holiday at the fishing port of Collioure in the south of France in 1905, when Matisse and Derain painted portraits of each other. Under Matisse’s influence, Derain begun to use strong, non-naturalistic colours, applied in small separate brushstrokes, to convey the sensations of light and shade.

More shockers! Who dared to paint pink trees in a painting?

André Derain painted Charring Cross Bridge in London, look at the trees:

Derain depicted the north bank of the Thames and its turn towards Westminster. In the centre of the composition, there is a blue-green road heading towards a turn. It brings together the colour riot of the picture. The road is bordered by a pink sidewalk, which is limited by the blue walls. Narrowing of the road until it disappears completely creates perspective and a sense of distance, although the actual image remains two-dimensional.

All of these paintings expressing the feelings of the artist through a somewhat irrational use of color, create the Fauvist style. Bold brush strokes using paint straight from the tube instead of preparing and mixing it.The ways in which their art challenged authority, and relied solely on the artist’s talents. These artists were painting in an overtly anti-naturalistic manner, actively going against the conventions of traditional art. The Fauves were searching for a new means of expression, for a new art.

Legacy of fauvism:

Fauvism is regarded as an important period in art history and had a profound influence on many other expressionist movements, including contemporary Die Brück and later Bleue Reiter, and Abstract Expressionism in America. The bold coloration of the Fauves had an early influence on countless individual artists.

Although Fauvism influenced many artists, by 1910, the painters that were considered the leading figures had moved on to progress in their individual styles.

Author of this article is Ms Ranjana Kashyap