fauvismus

Fauvism was an early 20th-century art movement that flourished in France from about 1905 to 1910. The movement's name comes from the French word "fauves," meaning "wild beasts," a term originally used by art critic Louis Vauxcelles to describe the group's work at the Salon d'Automne in 1905. Fauvist artists are characterized by their bold, non-naturalistic use of color, often applied directly from the paint tube in strong, unmixed hues. They prioritized intense color and expressive brushwork over realistic representation.

Key figures associated with Fauvism include Henri Matisse, André Derain, and Maurice de Vlaminck. Matisse, considered the leader of the movement, explored the expressive potential of color and simplified forms. Derain and Vlaminck, influenced by Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism, also embraced vibrant palettes and energetic application of paint. Their subject matter typically included landscapes, portraits, and still lifes, but the emphasis was always on the emotional impact of color and the subjective experience of the artist.

Fauvism had a relatively short lifespan as a cohesive movement, but its impact on the development of modern art was significant. Its radical departure from traditional color theory and its emphasis on individual expression paved the way for subsequent avant-garde movements, including Cubism and Expressionism. The Fauves' exploration of pure color and its emotional resonance remains a powerful influence on artists to this day.