Wild Beasts: Matisse, Derain and the Origins of Fauvism

The 20th century art world was stunned at a style of art and color invented by Andre Derain and Henri Matisse. The colors were so bold and jarring that critics dubbed the painters "wild beasts" or Les Fauves. It was a reaction to Impressionism and is now classified as one of the movements of post-Impressionism. Fauvism traces its origins to the symbolist works of Gustave Moreau, with influences of the paintings of Paul Signac and pointillism. Though the art style was important from 1904 to just before WWI, Les Fauves held only three major exhibitions between 1905 and 1906. The Met Museum put on a spectacular show last year and today their works are held by most major museums, including our very own Phillips Collection in DC. In this course we will study the Fauves, the origins and inspiration for their style, and their lasting effect on modern art in our own time.