Fauvists

The Fauves were a short-lived but influential movement in early 20th-century art. Emerging in Paris around 1905, the group included artists like Henri Matisse, André Derain, and Maurice de Vlaminck. Their name, meaning "wild beasts" in French, was coined by art critic Louis Vauxcelles at the Salon d'Automne in 1905, a reaction to the intense, non-naturalistic colors and bold brushwork displayed in their paintings.

Fauvism was characterized by a departure from realistic representation and a focus on expressing emotions through color. Fauvist painters used vibrant, often clashing colors directly from the tube, with little to no mixing. They employed simplified forms and distorted perspectives to enhance the emotional impact of their work. Subjects often included landscapes, portraits, and still lifes, but the treatment of these subjects was revolutionary for its time.

The movement's peak lasted only a few years, with most Fauvists moving on to explore other artistic styles by 1908. Despite its brevity, Fauvism had a significant impact on the development of modern art, paving the way for later movements such as Expressionism and Cubism by emphasizing the subjective experience and the expressive potential of color and form. Their radical use of color challenged traditional artistic conventions and opened new avenues for artistic exploration.