{"id":909,"date":"2015-10-16T00:06:20","date_gmt":"2015-10-16T00:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/zelixart102\/?post_type=chapter&p=909"},"modified":"2016-02-22T21:47:52","modified_gmt":"2016-02-22T21:47:52","slug":"introduction-to-fauvism","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/atd-herkimer-arthistory2\/chapter\/introduction-to-fauvism\/","title":{"raw":"Introduction to Fauvism","rendered":"Introduction to Fauvism"},"content":{"raw":"Fauvism developed in France to become the first new artistic style of the twentieth century. In contrast to the dark, vaguely disturbing nature of much fin-de-si\u00e8cle, or turn-of-the-century, Symbolist art, the Fauves produced bright cheery landscapes and figure paintings, characterized by pure vivid color and bold distinctive brushwork.\r\n\r\nWhen shown at the 1905 Salon d\u2019Automne (an exhibition organized by artists in response to the conservative policies of the official exhibitions, or salons) in Paris, the contrast to traditional art was so striking it led critic Louis Vauxcelles to describe the artists as \u201cLes Fauves\u201d or \u201cwild beasts,\u201d and thus the name was born.\r\n\r\nOne of several Expressionist movements to emerge in the early twentieth\u00a0century, Fauvism was short lived, and by 1910, artists in the group had diverged toward more individual interests. Nevertheless, Fauvism remains signficant for it demonstrated modern art\u2019s ability to evoke intensely emotional reactions through radical visual form.\r\n\r\nThe best known Fauve artists include Henri Matisse, Andr\u00e9 Derain, and Maurice Vlaminck who pioneered its distinctive style. Their early works reveal the influence of Post-Impressionist artists, especially Neo-Impressionists like Paul Signac, whose interest in color\u2019s optical effects had led to a divisionist method of juxtaposing pure hues on canvas. The Fauves, however, lacked such scientific intent. They emphasized the expressive potential of color, employing it arbitrarily, not based on an object\u2019s natural appearance.\r\n\r\nIn Luxe, calm et volupt\u00e9<\/i> (1904), for example, Matisse employed a pointillist style by applying paint in small dabs and dashes. Instead of the subtle blending of complimentary colors typical of Neo-Impressionism Seurat, for example), the combination of firey oranges, yellows, greens and purple is almost overpowering in its vibrant impact.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_910\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"700\"]\"The Figure 1. Henri Matisse, Luxe, calme et volupt\u00e9<\/em>, 1904, oil on canvas, 37 \u00d7 46 inches (Muse\u00e9 d'Orsay, Paris)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nSimilarly, while paintings such as Vlaminck\u2019s The River Seine at Chantou<\/i> (1906) appear to mimic the spontaneous, active brushwork of Impressionism, the Fauves adopted a painterly approach to enhance their work\u2019s emotional power, not to capture fleeting effects of color, light or atmosphere on their subjects. Their preference for landscapes, carefree figures and lighthearted subject matter reflects their desire to create an art that would appeal primarily to the viewers\u2019 senses.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_911\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]\"A Figure 2. Maurice de Vlaminck, The River Seine at Chatou, 1906, Oil on canvas, 32 1\/2 \u00d7 40 1\/8 in.\/ 82.6 \u00d7 101.9 cm (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nPaintings such as Matisse\u2019s Bonheur de Vivre<\/i> (1905\u201306) epitomize this goal. Bright colors and undulating lines pull our eye gently through the ideallic scene, encouraging us to imagine feeling the warmth of the sun, the cool of the grass, the soft touch of a caress, and the passion of a kiss.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1698\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"]\"A Figure 3. Henri Matisse, Bonheur de Vivre (Joy of Life)<\/em>, oil on canvas, 1905\u201306 (Barnes Foundation)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nLike many modern artists, the Fauves also found inspiration in objects from Africa and other non-western cultures. Seen through a Colonialist lens, the formal distinctions of African art reflected current notions of Primitivism\u2014the belief that, lacking the corrupting influence of European civilization, non-western peoples were more in tune with the primal elements of nature.\r\n\r\nBlue Nude (Souvenir of Biskra)<\/i> of 1907 shows how Matisse combined his traditional subject of the female nude with the influence of primitive sources. The woman\u2019s face appears mask-like in the use of strong outlines and harsh contrasts of light and dark, and the hard lines of her body recall the angled planar surfaces common to African sculpture. This distorted effect, further heightened by her contorted pose, clearly distinguishes the figure from the idealized odalisques of Ingres and painters of the past.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1699\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"800\"]\"A Figure 6. Henri Matisse, The Blue Nude (Souvenir de Biskra)<\/em>, oil on canvas, 1907 (Baltimore Museum of Art)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThe Fauves interest in Primitivism reinforced their reputation as \u201cwild beasts\u201d who sought new possibilities for art through their exploration of direct expression, impactful visual forms and instinctual appeal.","rendered":"

Fauvism developed in France to become the first new artistic style of the twentieth century. In contrast to the dark, vaguely disturbing nature of much fin-de-si\u00e8cle, or turn-of-the-century, Symbolist art, the Fauves produced bright cheery landscapes and figure paintings, characterized by pure vivid color and bold distinctive brushwork.<\/p>\n

When shown at the 1905 Salon d\u2019Automne (an exhibition organized by artists in response to the conservative policies of the official exhibitions, or salons) in Paris, the contrast to traditional art was so striking it led critic Louis Vauxcelles to describe the artists as \u201cLes Fauves\u201d or \u201cwild beasts,\u201d and thus the name was born.<\/p>\n

One of several Expressionist movements to emerge in the early twentieth\u00a0century, Fauvism was short lived, and by 1910, artists in the group had diverged toward more individual interests. Nevertheless, Fauvism remains signficant for it demonstrated modern art\u2019s ability to evoke intensely emotional reactions through radical visual form.<\/p>\n

The best known Fauve artists include Henri Matisse, Andr\u00e9 Derain, and Maurice Vlaminck who pioneered its distinctive style. Their early works reveal the influence of Post-Impressionist artists, especially Neo-Impressionists like Paul Signac, whose interest in color\u2019s optical effects had led to a divisionist method of juxtaposing pure hues on canvas. The Fauves, however, lacked such scientific intent. They emphasized the expressive potential of color, employing it arbitrarily, not based on an object\u2019s natural appearance.<\/p>\n

In Luxe, calm et volupt\u00e9<\/i> (1904), for example, Matisse employed a pointillist style by applying paint in small dabs and dashes. Instead of the subtle blending of complimentary colors typical of Neo-Impressionism Seurat, for example), the combination of firey oranges, yellows, greens and purple is almost overpowering in its vibrant impact.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Figure 1. Henri Matisse, Luxe, calme et volupt\u00e9<\/em>, 1904, oil on canvas, 37 \u00d7 46 inches (Muse\u00e9 d’Orsay, Paris)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Similarly, while paintings such as Vlaminck\u2019s The River Seine at Chantou<\/i> (1906) appear to mimic the spontaneous, active brushwork of Impressionism, the Fauves adopted a painterly approach to enhance their work\u2019s emotional power, not to capture fleeting effects of color, light or atmosphere on their subjects. Their preference for landscapes, carefree figures and lighthearted subject matter reflects their desire to create an art that would appeal primarily to the viewers\u2019 senses.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Figure 2. Maurice de Vlaminck, The River Seine at Chatou, 1906, Oil on canvas, 32 1\/2 \u00d7 40 1\/8 in.\/ 82.6 \u00d7 101.9 cm (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Paintings such as Matisse\u2019s Bonheur de Vivre<\/i> (1905\u201306) epitomize this goal. Bright colors and undulating lines pull our eye gently through the ideallic scene, encouraging us to imagine feeling the warmth of the sun, the cool of the grass, the soft touch of a caress, and the passion of a kiss.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Figure 3. Henri Matisse, Bonheur de Vivre (Joy of Life)<\/em>, oil on canvas, 1905\u201306 (Barnes Foundation)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Like many modern artists, the Fauves also found inspiration in objects from Africa and other non-western cultures. Seen through a Colonialist lens, the formal distinctions of African art reflected current notions of Primitivism\u2014the belief that, lacking the corrupting influence of European civilization, non-western peoples were more in tune with the primal elements of nature.<\/p>\n

Blue Nude (Souvenir of Biskra)<\/i> of 1907 shows how Matisse combined his traditional subject of the female nude with the influence of primitive sources. The woman\u2019s face appears mask-like in the use of strong outlines and harsh contrasts of light and dark, and the hard lines of her body recall the angled planar surfaces common to African sculpture. This distorted effect, further heightened by her contorted pose, clearly distinguishes the figure from the idealized odalisques of Ingres and painters of the past.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Figure 6. Henri Matisse, The Blue Nude (Souvenir de Biskra)<\/em>, oil on canvas, 1907 (Baltimore Museum of Art)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Fauves interest in Primitivism reinforced their reputation as \u201cwild beasts\u201d who sought new possibilities for art through their exploration of direct expression, impactful visual forms and instinctual appeal.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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