Vase de Fleurs
André Derain
1910
On view : WORLD OF FLOWERS EXHIBITION HALL
More information
- YEAR:1910
- MEDIUM:Oil on canvas
- DIMENSIONS:55 × 46 cm
Introduction
After co-founding Fauvism with Matisse, André Derain absorbed the spirit of the Cubist movement, then continually explored and transformed his style. Following World War I, he came to embrace a more classical style. Vase de Fleurs marks a pivotal stage in Derain’s transition from Cubism to Classicism. The painting sets white and red blossoms against a muted brown-red background, their forms and composition pared down yet full of tension. The densely applied, bold brushstrokes—retaining an echo of Fauvism—lend the work a strong decorative and abstract quality, while also reflecting Derain’s pursuit of the ideal beauty found in classical art.
