Fauvism

What is Fauvism? Well, first you need to know where the word comes from and what it means; French art critic, Louis Vauxcellas, is credited for coining the art movement name (as well as cubism) as, "les fauves," which translates as, "big cats/wild beasts," in 1905 when Louis Vauxcellas was reviewing, in a mocking manner, the Salon d'Automne exhibit. During his trip to the exhibit, Louis Vauxcellas made his disapproval very well known he discovered paintings by Henri Matisse were in the same showroom by classic artists as a Donatello sculpture, grumbling, "a Dontello amongst the wild beasts." The crude and harsh brush strokes for fauvism, I guess compared to a Donatello sculpture, could be rightly described as, "wild beasts." I personally would have never put a Matisse, or the like, in a showroom with any other style, aside from cubism and impressionism. I get the name...still a bit rude, but I get it. Honestly, the Salon d'Automne should have known better.

The fauvism art movement started in the early 20th century, beginning around 1904 and ending sometime after 1910, but the main movement was 1905-1908, with the three major leaders of the fauvism movement, Andre Derain, Maurice de Vlaminck, and Henri Matisse.

How To Describe Fauvism?

Fauvism can be easily identified once you see it, but sometimes, I kind of have difficulty in giving it's definition and defining it, as it is also related to cubism and impressionism, as fauvism is seen as basically an extension to the impressionism movement, and fauvism can also go in the same category as cubism, except the subject matter and colors used for cubism contrast in comparison. Fauvism are bold and vibrant colors and the subjects are mainly of portraits (being at number 1), land & seascapes, and figures in interiors, with applying abstraction, while cubism subjects are of musical instruments, people, bottles, glasses, and playing cards, and typically in muted grays, black, and a clay color, like earth tone yellows, bold colors were used later in the movement. I'll get into cubism and impressionism another time.

The fauvism movement credits Gustave Moreau being the inspiration and taught Matisse, Albert Marquet, Henri Manguin, Georges Rouault, and Charles Camoin during the 1890's and was initially the first leader of fauvism until Henri Matisse became notable in 1904.

There are a few notable artists that were part of the fauvism movement and artists that have the style of fauvism; today, I will be featuring artwork from everyone!

The Artists of The Fauvism Movement