André Derain; 1880–1954 — French artist, graphic artist, theater designer, sculptor, ceramist, who remained in the history of painting as a true innovator: in the process of searching for his own style, he created in almost all modernist movements, from impressionism to fauvism, cubism and neoclassicism. His paintings were distinguished by their verified coloring, and during the period of fascination with fauvism, their colors were bright and saturated, and when Derain began to paint in the neoclassical direction, they became more traditional and muted.
Estaque
He often painted landscapes, which are impressive in their emotional content and decorative nature, and afterwards he switched to nude painting.
Two naked women and still life
Despite the constant search for his direction, Deren was in demand and already during the artist's lifetime his work was appreciated on merit. Famous gallerists willingly bought his paintings, once the famous Ambroise Vollard came to Deren's studio and did not hesitate to pay for all the works exhibited there, even if some of them were not yet finished. And when Deren was still young, to his parents appeared Henri Matisse himself, who already then had the status of a real meter, and strongly advised him not to put any obstacles in his studies, and on the contrary, to support his endeavors, good their son “talented to the extreme.
Portrait of Matisse
Deren's parents were simple laborers: according to some sources, his father worked as a milkman, according to others - a pastry chef, and in general did not really understand what their son does in general. But the visit of Matisse convinced them that Andre will still be a good thing, even if he was not seriously interested in anything but drawing, and despite all their attempts to give a “normal education” - at the insistence of his father Deren entered the Polytechnic School, treated the study there as an unnecessary duty. But the studio of artist Eugene Carrier Deren attended very willingly, it was there that the fateful acquaintance with Matisse.
The Dance
Influenced by Matisse, Derain discovered Fauvism, which became the alpha and omega of his work at the beginning of his career. He specialized in landscapes, often going to the suburbs for plein air in search of spectacular views. But the basis of everything was color: bright, pure and saturated, defining the overall mood of the painting.
Mountains at Collioure
In the paintings of Deren unrestrained riot of colors became amazingly harmonious, which was an unquestionable sign of great talent.
Drying the sails
One day, during a trip to the plein air, Deren saw a boy with an easel. After approaching and getting acquainted, he found out that he was also from Chatou, a small town near Paris, and dreamed of succeeding as an artist. This is how Deren and Maurice de Vlaminck, a French Fauvist painter, became friends.
Charing Cross Bridge
They organized a joint workshop, Deren introduced Vlaminck Matisse, but the latter did not show much joy from the acquaintance. In Matisse's opinion, Vlaminck was too noisy. Vlaminck was not in debt and said that Matisse “has nothing but color”. But nevertheless it was this trio who laid the foundations of Fauvism.
In 1905, art critic Louis Vauxcelles called the work of our trio of “wild”, thus giving the name of the whole direction in painting. True, most viewers were alien to their creative endeavors: too much bright color, reminiscent of children's ointment, to the detriment of form and any artistic delights.
The Port of Collioure
However, some gallerists, for example, the same Ambroise Vollard paintings Fauvistov very much appreciated and thanks to his orders they could count on a prosperous existence.
And a year later Deren under the influence of Picasso became interested in cubism. His paintings became more voluminous, but soon Deren in cubism so disappointed that burned most of his works written in this direction. Cubism seemed to him a path to nowhere, a creative dead end.
He did not want to go against the existing ideas about painting, did not try to refute anything. Perhaps that is why, having played with the avant-garde, he decided to return to neoclassicism.
Ball of soldiers in Suresnes
Deren's friends were dissatisfied: they believed that the artist went for it solely for commercial reasons, thereby betraying true art. However, in those days, the iconic avant-garde artists, such as Picasso or Matisse, were already earning no worse than “classical” artists, and could hardly complain about the lack of money. It is a matter of creative search and, let's face it, the desire to please the majority of viewers. After the First World War, people wanted to touch something good, reliable, and light, and the classics were the best fit.
Harlequin and Pierrot
In France, his new paintings were not too popular, but in other countries, particularly in the United States, Germany, Russia, Czech Republic, they were bought like hotcakes.
Saturday afternoon
Deren met his future wife Alice thanks to Picasso in 1907. True, he married her only 20 years later, because Alice was not too hasty and did not consider marriage as something obligatory - a rare quality for a girl in those years. In 1929, he bought a good estate, but he spent a lot of time in his Paris workshop.
Big bathers
It was often frequented by models who were not only professionally interested in the artist. A gray hair in the head and a gray hair in the mouth: that's Deren's way of thinking. He tried not to miss any pretty model, so it is not surprising that one of them - Raymonda soon gave birth to a child, which the artist had to recognize his. However, several of the model's children remained illegitimate, although everyone knew who their real father was.
Portrait of Isabelle Lambert
Finally, Alice's patience ran out and she filed for divorce. Deren was already old - 73 years old, and it was a serious blow to him. And a year later he was hit by a car and received injuries incompatible with life. However, there were wonderful paintings, so it is safe to say that the life of the artist lived not in vain, even if it was far from ideal.
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