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Fauvism: What ? When ? Where ?
The term "Les Fauves" is French for nothing less than "The Wild Beasts".
This not so flattering term was given to the artists of this movement because
of their supposed lack of discipline. However Fauvism today is defined as a
short-lived movement of early Modernist art which emphasized paint itself
and the use of deep color over the representational values retained by
Impressionism, even with its focus on light and the moment. Fauvists strongly
believe in the power of color as an emotional force.
Les Fauves often used a quote by Paul Gauguin to justify their style:
"If the trees look yellow to the artist then painted a bright yellow they must be."
The two leaders of Fauvism were Henri Matisse and André Derain. Their
paintings use bright, vivid colors to draw the eye. Fauvism had some
influence on the later formed Expressionists.
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