Artist in Focus - Raoul Dufy

French painter Raoul Dufy is often considered to be a Fauvist, although his distinct style was inspired by and inextricably linked to many artists and styles of the time. Dufy’s earliest influenceswere Impressionist landscape painters like Pissarro and Monet, whose work he encountered whilst he was studying at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. It was at the 1905 Salon des Indépendants, where Dufy first encountered Fauvism with Matisse’s iconic and foundational piece Luxe, Calme et Volupte. Dufy’s work moved to the bright colours and bold contours of Fauvism, although Cezanne’s 1907 exhibition encouraged Dufy towards a more subtle approach. Briefly dabbling in Cubist art, Dufy’s exposure to and interest in the vastly changing French art scene allowed him to cultivate his own distinctive approach.

Often considered ‘optimistic’, Dufy’s works feature skeletal structures and shortened perspectives as well as quick application of thin washes of colour. He is arguably best known for his scenes of chic and luxurious open-air events, including Regattas and horse races. Dufy was a master at a wide range of subjects and media; he was a painter, printmaker, illustrator, draftsman, as well as a designer of public spaces and furniture. He painted portraits, still-lifes, landscapes, flowers, and fashion.

Explore the vast talent and distinctive style of Raoul Dufy with this newly published collection of works.