Raoul Dufy was a French Fauvist painter born in Le Havre in 1877. He is best remembered for his colorful and vibrant artwork depicting the French Riviera, which was his favorite subject to paint.
Dufy began painting at a very early age after his mother arranged for him to take classes with a local artist. He showed such promise that he earned a scholarship to the École des Beaux-Arts in 1895. After being rejected from a number of schools, he finally was accepted at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
At the École des Beaux-Arts, Raoul Dufy excelled in all areas of painting, but he developed a particular affinity for watercolor painting. After studying in Paris for a few years, Dufy moved to the south of France and began to focus his artistic talents on the landscape and people of the region.
During this time, Dufy was inspired by the works of Gauguin and Matisse, resulting in a style of painting known as Fauvism. This style of painting was characterized by bright, intense colors that conveyed emotion and energy rather than realism.
Although Dufy was initially well-received as a painter of Fauvism, the movement was eventually eclipsed by the emergence of Cubism and a variety of other styles of painting. He began to move away from Fauvism and developed a style of painting which could be described as an impressionistic version of Fauvism.
Using softer, lighter colors, and painting with broader brush strokes, Dufy was able to capture a sense of movement and joy in his works. He focused on landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, and sometimes portraits, but he would always make links between these scenes by incorporating elements of his own journeys and experiences.
Throughout his life, Dufy continued to paint and exhibit his works in galleries, museums, and exhibitions around the world. His works were highly sought after by collectors and the public alike. He passed away in 1953, leaving behind a vast archive of works that still captivate viewers to this day.
