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Andr Lee Derain Research Paper

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Andrè Derain painted Madame Matisse au kimono in the pivotal summer of 1905. Derain and his fellow painter and companion, Henri Matisse spent the summer in the French fishing town of Collioure working alongside one another. They developed a colourful and expressive style renowned as Fauvism which is now considered the first twentieth century movement in modern art. The experimentation and artworks created in Collioure were exhibited at the Salon d'Automne in Paris later that year. The exhibition proved to be hugely influential as it launched the beginning of an avant-garde movement within the art world. These early works also led to the publicity that awarded Derain with a successful commission in London the following year. While Derain is …show more content…

Their works did not intend to employ greater meanings or address social or political issues. The actual subjects of Fauvist art can seem almost irrelevant as the bright and thick colours become independent subjects of their own. Derain himself had said “We were always intoxicated with colour, with words that speak of colour, and with the sun that makes colours live”. At the turn of the century impressionism was in decline and whilst the fauves continued to work from nature their expressive technique and intensified colours conveyed a new philosophy and direction in art. Madame Matisse, the subject of this particular portrait often appears in Fauvist works. This is because the Fauvists artists worked closely together. At the time of this piece Derain was living with matisse and his wife in Collioure and Matisse himself had sketched a similar image of his wife. The kimono Madame Mattise wears in the portrait also features throughout multiple pieces and is said to be a favourable garment of Madame Matisse. This clothing motif highlights the growing influence of Japanese culture and lifestyle in France during the 1900’s. As trading ports were opened Japanese art and aesthetics were heavily embraced by the European

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