Fauvism Artist Research

Fauvism Artist Analysis

Andre Derain

Content:

I would describe this piece as an abstract and creative view on Henri Matisse. The subject is directly observed but the colours are imagined with warm and cold primary and secondary colours. The artist has tried to introduce a new look and style. Aspects of Derain’s piece are clearly abstracted and it creates a unique effect.

Formal Elements:

Derain has used dabs of paint from a brush to add textures to his piece. The piece has been arranged using warm colours and cool colours for highlights. The piece is quite harmonious. Yellow seems to dominate overall. The dabs seem to be continuous throughout the piece giving texture throughout the whole painting, because of how the piece has different brush strokes, it gives various different textures.

Process:

This piece was made using oil paints and paint brushes. Derain used a dabbing technique to create texture and would have sketched the basics beforehand. Derain also would have used paint straight from the tube, which can be shown clearly in this piece, as it is mostly primary and secondary colours that were available at the time. The work would have been made quickly as shown by the rapid dabs and brushstrokes. From this piece you could see Derain is clearly skilled using oil paints and overall painting and drawing.

Mood / Meaning:

Due to the warm colours that dominate, it gives the painting a happy and full of life feel, it captures a lively feeling and evokes a joyful atmosphere. It leaves a lasting impression of Henri Matisse as an overall happy man. The artist clearly conveys this with the use of strong warm colours compared to the very few cool and cold colours.

Influence:

This clearly relates to the theme, as it is from the time, consists of the main unnatural colours and media from the time and is clearly a piece of fauvism work due to the techniques used, e.g. rapid brushstrokes and dabbing in the portrait.