Painting of the Day #13Painting of the Day #13 The FauvesThe Fauves

Fauvism- InfluencesFauvism- InfluencesLes Fauves (literally meaning ‘Wild Beasts’) were a Les Fauves (literally meaning ‘Wild Beasts’) were a

small group of French painters, influenced by small group of French painters, influenced by Gaugin’s vibrant paintings from Tahiti, from Gaugin’s vibrant paintings from Tahiti, from Seurat’s use of pure pigment in pointillism and the Seurat’s use of pure pigment in pointillism and the emerging color theories from physicist James Clerk emerging color theories from physicist James Clerk Maxwell and American painter Ogden Rood. For Maxwell and American painter Ogden Rood. For many of these painters, Van Gogh’s (obscure at the many of these painters, Van Gogh’s (obscure at the time) and Cezanne’s work were a large influence. time) and Cezanne’s work were a large influence. Maxwell had developed a theory that colors could Maxwell had developed a theory that colors could be mixed by eye. He proved this by spinning be mixed by eye. He proved this by spinning multicolored disks to produce sensations of multicolored disks to produce sensations of different colors (violet and green made blue). different colors (violet and green made blue). Ogden continued along this line of thought saying Ogden continued along this line of thought saying that when colors were placed next to each other, that when colors were placed next to each other, the eye would automatically blend them as well (as the eye would automatically blend them as well (as illustrated in Seurat’s pieces). illustrated in Seurat’s pieces).

Paul Gauguin Paul Gauguin Nave, Nave Moe 1894Nave, Nave Moe 1894Oil on CanvasOil on CanvasHermitage Museum, St. Hermitage Museum, St. PetersburgPetersburg

George SeuratGeorge SeuratEvening, Honfleur, 1886Evening, Honfleur, 1886

Museum of Modern Art, NYCMuseum of Modern Art, NYCOil on canvas 30.75x37”Oil on canvas 30.75x37”

Though Fauvism only lasted 3 years, it was a very important Though Fauvism only lasted 3 years, it was a very important movement because it was the first time that color was being movement because it was the first time that color was being abstracted. Color for the Fauves was used as a tool of expression abstracted. Color for the Fauves was used as a tool of expression and they felt that Impressionism’s use of color held back expression and they felt that Impressionism’s use of color held back expression with their very literal palette.with their very literal palette.

The first gallery showing of Matisse and Andre Derain was shared The first gallery showing of Matisse and Andre Derain was shared with a Donatello (high Renaissance sculptor) exhibition. Later a with a Donatello (high Renaissance sculptor) exhibition. Later a critic called the show “Donatello among the wild beasts” and coined critic called the show “Donatello among the wild beasts” and coined the phase “Fauvism”. The show was exhibited with much harsh the phase “Fauvism”. The show was exhibited with much harsh criticism and one critic stated, “A pot of paint has been flung in the criticism and one critic stated, “A pot of paint has been flung in the face of the public.”face of the public.”

The Fauves were ardent in their study of color and the reason I like The Fauves were ardent in their study of color and the reason I like this movement so much is that it began an era where a different kind this movement so much is that it began an era where a different kind of observation and decision making had come to the forefront in of observation and decision making had come to the forefront in making paintings. making paintings.

In this painting for example, it seems that Matisse painted this In this painting for example, it seems that Matisse painted this portrait with a red light on the right side of the subject. Not only is portrait with a red light on the right side of the subject. Not only is the face pretty pink on that side, but the exaggerated red highlights the face pretty pink on that side, but the exaggerated red highlights on the cheekbone and on the hairline above the right eye show this. on the cheekbone and on the hairline above the right eye show this. Also, a shadow is the complementary color of the light source. The Also, a shadow is the complementary color of the light source. The left side of the face shows a greenish shadow. The next time you’re left side of the face shows a greenish shadow. The next time you’re in red light around a mirror, check it out-green shadows. There was in red light around a mirror, check it out-green shadows. There was probably a white light on the left side, as seen by the lightness of the probably a white light on the left side, as seen by the lightness of the brow line on that side, the illumination of the left side of the left eye brow line on that side, the illumination of the left side of the left eye brow, the cast shadow to the right of her neck and face and the fact brow, the cast shadow to the right of her neck and face and the fact

that the hair hasn’t turned black in shadow. that the hair hasn’t turned black in shadow.

Henri MatisseHenri Matisse Portrait of Madame Matisse (The Green Line) 1905Portrait of Madame Matisse (The Green Line) 1905

Statens Museum for Kunst, CopenhagenStatens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen

Maurice de Maurice de Vlaminck Vlaminck

Maurice de VlaminckMaurice de Vlaminck The River Seine at Chatou 1905 The River Seine at Chatou 1905 Metropolitan Musum of ArtMetropolitan Musum of Art Oil on canvasOil on canvas

Maurice de VlaminckMaurice de Vlaminck Hills in Rueil 1906Hills in Rueil 1906

Oil on canvasOil on canvas

I’ve never heard of this guy, but he seems like a I’ve never heard of this guy, but he seems like a good example of the bridge between good example of the bridge between impressionism and the sometimes garish impressionism and the sometimes garish Fauvist elements.Fauvist elements.

Andre DerainAndre Derain

Montanas de Montanas de CollioureCollioure

Oil on canvas Oil on canvas 19051905

Ponttde Charing Ponttde Charing Cross (1906)Cross (1906)

Oil on CanvasOil on Canvas

London Bridge London Bridge 26x39” 190626x39” 1906 Oil on canvasOil on canvas Museum of Modern Art, NYMuseum of Modern Art, NY

You can tell Impressionism’s impact on Derain in You can tell Impressionism’s impact on Derain in the lending of loose and choppy brushwork and the lending of loose and choppy brushwork and his affinity towards plein air painting. Derain, his affinity towards plein air painting. Derain, along with Matisse, is considered to be one of the along with Matisse, is considered to be one of the founders of Fauvism. His skewed perspective founders of Fauvism. His skewed perspective elements seem to show Van Gogh’s influence.elements seem to show Van Gogh’s influence.

Henri Matisse- aka: The King of the FauvesHenri Matisse- aka: The King of the Fauves After the premiere of the first Fauvism show, Matisse After the premiere of the first Fauvism show, Matisse

was seriously bummed. The critics tore him a new was seriously bummed. The critics tore him a new poop shoot and few artists were interested in using poop shoot and few artists were interested in using color as an expressive device. Fortunately, Gertrude color as an expressive device. Fortunately, Gertrude Stein purchased Stein purchased Woman with a Hat Woman with a Hat and gave him a and gave him a motivating slap on the ass and a solid “atta-boy”. motivating slap on the ass and a solid “atta-boy”. We’ll get to Gert again soon. On the left here is one of We’ll get to Gert again soon. On the left here is one of Matisse’s first paintings that would be considered to be Matisse’s first paintings that would be considered to be in this style. in this style.

Open Window, Open Window, Collioure Collioure

Oil on canvas 1905Oil on canvas 1905

Woman with a HatWoman with a Hat 1905 oil on canvas1905 oil on canvas

Fauvism really only lasted from about 1905-1908. Fauvism really only lasted from about 1905-1908. Afterwards, Matisse continued with his study of color and Afterwards, Matisse continued with his study of color and began to dick around with perspective and the flattening of began to dick around with perspective and the flattening of

space. In space. In The Dessert: Harmony in RedThe Dessert: Harmony in Red you’ll notice a you’ll notice a strong primary color palette. strong primary color palette.

The DanceThe Dance is more about joy and excitement. The figures in is more about joy and excitement. The figures in the background are even larger than the figures in the the background are even larger than the figures in the

foreground, once again showing his push toward a skewed foreground, once again showing his push toward a skewed perspective.perspective.

The Dessert: Harmony in RedThe Dessert: Harmony in Red Oil on Canvas 1908Oil on Canvas 1908 The HermitageThe Hermitage

The DanceThe Dance Oil on Canvas 1910Oil on Canvas 1910

Museum of Modern Art, NYMuseum of Modern Art, NY 8' 6 1/2" x 12' 9 1/2"8' 6 1/2" x 12' 9 1/2"

Here, the figure at the left moves purposefully; the strength of her Here, the figure at the left moves purposefully; the strength of her body is emphasized by the sweeping unbroken contour from her body is emphasized by the sweeping unbroken contour from her rear foot up to her breast. The other dancers seem so light they rear foot up to her breast. The other dancers seem so light they nearly float. The woman at the far right is barely sketched in, her nearly float. The woman at the far right is barely sketched in, her foot dissolving in runny paint as she reels backward. The arm of foot dissolving in runny paint as she reels backward. The arm of the dancer to her left literally stretches as it reaches toward the the dancer to her left literally stretches as it reaches toward the leader's hand, where momentum has broken the circle. The leader's hand, where momentum has broken the circle. The dancers' speed is barely contained by the edges of the canvas.dancers' speed is barely contained by the edges of the canvas.

-from MoMa.org-from MoMa.org

Cut OutsCut Outs Later in life Matisse got old. He continued pushing Later in life Matisse got old. He continued pushing

his fascination with flat space and his study of color his fascination with flat space and his study of color (again, note the primary color palette here). He (again, note the primary color palette here). He eventually got cancer and could no longer paint. eventually got cancer and could no longer paint. This prompted him to make paper cut out pieces, This prompted him to make paper cut out pieces, some very large.some very large.

...and ugly :P...and ugly :P

Jazz (from a book of “about 100”Jazz (from a book of “about 100”

Paper cut out (1947)Paper cut out (1947)

End. End.

Quick FYI-Quick FYI- Vincent van Gogh's Vincent van Gogh's The Starry NightThe Starry Night will not be on view at MoMA will not be on view at MoMA from June 11 through from June 11 through September 20, 2008. The painting will be on view at Yale University Art Gallery in the exhibition September 20, 2008. The painting will be on view at Yale University Art Gallery in the exhibition Van Gogh's Van Gogh's Cypresses and The Starry Night: Visions of Saint-RémyCypresses and The Starry Night: Visions of Saint-Rémy from June 15 to September 2, 2008. It will then return to from June 15 to September 2, 2008. It will then return to MoMA for the exhibition MoMA for the exhibition Van Gogh and the Colors of the NightVan Gogh and the Colors of the Night from September 21, 2008, to January 5, 2009. The from September 21, 2008, to January 5, 2009. The exhibition then travels to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, where it will be on view from February 13 to June exhibition then travels to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, where it will be on view from February 13 to June 7, 2009. The painting returns to MoMA once again in late June, 2009. 7, 2009. The painting returns to MoMA once again in late June, 2009.