André DERAIN 1880-1954

In 1900, André Derain met Vlaminck in a train. From this memorable encounter, the Fauvism movement was born…

 André Derain,

precursor of fauvism and cubism

In 1900, Derain met Vlaminck in a train. From this memorable encounter, the Fauvism movement was born. The two friends painted the Island of Chatou, opposite the Fournaise restaurant.

In 1905 Vollard departed for London and purchased all the contents of his workshop.

In 1907 Kahnweiler signed a contract with him until 1924.

Derain rapidly abandoned the Fauvism movement. He reinvented the classics in his own manner throughout all his ‘periods’ such as Cezanne-cubism (1907/1909), byzantine (1910) and thereafter in his rich and varied work.

With the sobriety and the power of ancient masters, he remained faithful to what his nature contained in fantasy, humour, experimental taste and creativity.

“He is the only one of us who is capable of painting large-scale paintings. He can measure himself to Tintoretto and Velasquez”. Pablo Picasso

André Derain works incorporates a form of classical beauty without losing its virtuosity or fluidity, with specific spontaneity and freshness.

This complex giant was involved in many projects (theatre costumes and decors, illustrations, sculptures) without ever fossilizing himself in a specific genre.

Throughout his life, he continuously questioned himself. He shared a sense of grandeur, timelessness close to religion with Courbet or Balthus.

“An audacious and disciplined temperament’. Along with Picasso, he is one of the most important artists of the 20th Century”. Guillaume Apollinaire, 1916

Last exhibitions dedicated to Derain

1994: Retrospective in Museum of Modern Art, Paris

2017: “Derain, Balthus, Giacometti, An artistic friendship” Musée d’Art moderne de la Ville de Paris. A new kind of exhibition exploring the friendship between three major 20th-century artists: Derain (1880–1954), Balthus (1908–2001) and Alberto Giacometti (1901–1966), with a remarkable selection of over 350 paintings, sculptures, works on paper and photographs, mainly centred on the period between the 1930s and the 1960s.

2017-2018: “André Derain, 1904-1914. La décennie radicale” Musée National d’Art Moderne Centre Pompidou, Paris.  An exhibition with 70 paintings and works on paper, sculptures, photographs and ceramics. Galerie de la Présidence lent a work to this exhibition.