Fauvism: 1905-1908

Fauvism was given its name in 1905 when a number of artists at the time brought their work together for a Paris exhibition. A critic at the exhibition noticed a renaissance-style sculpture in the middle of the gallery and scathingly pronounced, 'Donatello au milieu des fauves!' ('Donatello among the wild beasts!'). The name stuck and was even cherished by the artists themselves.

The style of Fauvism was expressionist in essence, and it marked one of the first avant-garde movements in 20^th century European art. Usually paintings depicted landscapes in which forms were distorted using strikingly vibrant, non-naturalistic colours.

Critics held a derisive opinion of the movement as it developed, but once major art buyers such as Gertrude Stein gained an interest it attained a certain respectability, and despite only lasting a limited number of years, Fauvism remained influential throughout the evolution of 20^th century art.

Leading artists of the movement were Matisse, Rouault, Derain, Vlaminck, Braque and Dufy.

Our Art on Demand gallery contains the following fauvism prints, posters and canvases: