Fauvism is a school of art and style that originally developed in France at the end of the 19th century. This school of fauvism art eventually developed to several places in Europe based on the foundation of the concept of expressionism pioneered by Van Gogh.
The name of the flow of Fauvism, comes from a satirical word that is fauve which means wild animals. The word arose from Louis Vauxcelles when he commented on an exhibition held at the Salon d’Automne. To find out more about the flow of Fauvism, see the explanation below.
Fauvism definition
Fauvism is a school that values the concept of expression in capturing the atmosphere to be depicted. Fauvism flow is different from the works of impressionism. Where, fauvis painters can argue that harmony which is not connected with reality in nature, will show more of the artist’s personal relationship with nature.
Fauvism emphasizes more on the quality of artistic elements, such as lines, shapes and strong colors over realistic values that are still maintained by impressionism.
This means that in the flow of fauvism, even though impressionism came out of the principles of realism or naturalism, its basic nature is still the same, i.e. it still imitates nature. Fauvism uses a style that is almost the same as impressionism, but Fauvism rejects the basic idea of imitation of nature.
In the flow of Fauvism, artists prefer to use every element in their works to become works that are independent without the need to be associated with image resemblance or realisticity. An example is the use of color as symbolism.
The term Fauvism itself comes from the French language, namely les Fauves , which means beast. The term was taken from an art critic and commentator named Louis Vauxcelles who expressed his amazement at the works of Fauvism artists.
The term wild beast was used, because fauvism artists were considered to have rebelled against various kinds of mainstream art principles that existed at that time in Paris, but these fauvist artists were able to prove that they produced great and stunning works.
The basic concept of the flow of Fauvism was first traced in 1888 from Paul Gauguin’s comments on Paul Serisier, his comments are as follows.
“How do you interpret that tree? Yellow, therefore added yellow. Then, the shade looks a bit blue, because of that added ultramarine. Reddish leaves? Just add vermilion.”
Everything that has to do with objective or realistic observation, as in naturalist painting, is replaced by emotional and imaginative understanding.
As a result of this emotional and imaginative understanding, the color and concept of space have a poetic feel. The colors used are clear and are no longer adjusted to the colors on the ground, but follow the heart and desires of the painter.
The use of lines in Fauvism flow becomes simpler, so that connoisseurs of the painting can detect clear and strong lines in the painting. Therefore, the shapes of objects in paintings become easier to recognize without the need to consider many details.
Fauvism painters also call for rebellion against the establishment of painting which has long been aided by the objectivism of science like what existed in impressionism. Although, knowledge from previous painters is still used as a basis for painting. This upheaval occurred in the early days when the flow of Fauvism was popular, namely in the period 1904 – 1907.
Characteristics of Fauvism
The flow of Fauvism has several characteristics, as follows:
- In the flow of Fauvism, model images in Fauvism paintings do not have the same accuracy as with reference to painted models.
- Objects from the painting model, outlined with lines that are clearly visible and very firm. Examples such as images found in the forms of cartoon character images and so on.
- The use and selection of colors in Fauvism paintings tend to be contrasting, bright and bright. The striking color was chosen, because the color does not look at the accuracy according to the reference of the painting model.
- Brush markings in Fauvism paintings tend to be very striking, contrasting and not obscured by shading.
- Some are Fauvism painters, some paint in landscape forms and some painters are still attached to certain types of objects.
- In accordance with its understanding, the flow of Fauvism painting conveys what is in the minds and ideas possessed by the painters.
- Contrasting and striking colors are used, as a way to express the ideas of the author.
Characteristics of Fauvism
Based on the characteristics of Fauvism, here are some of the characteristics of Fauvism that you need to know.
1. Color
In the flow of Fauvism, color is the priority when painting an object. Raw and pure colors are not something that is secondary to the composition of a painting. For example, when a painter paints a red sky, the entire landscape of the painting must follow suit.
Another example is when a painter wants to maximize the effect of a red sky, the artist can choose the color of the building in green, the water in yellow, the sand in orange, and the boat in blue.
Artists from the Fauvism school can also choose colors that are just as contrasting and just as bright. One thing that cannot be forgotten from the art of Fauvism is that there are no artists with this style who give realistic color to their paintings.
2. Has a simple shape
Because in the flow of Fauvism the artist avoids normal painting techniques, simple forms of the objects the artist paints are born. Simple forms in Fauvism painting, become one of the necessities in Fauvism flow apart from using contrasting and bright color tones.
3. Expression
The third characteristic of Fauvism is that the paintings presented are of the expressionist type. Expressionism can express the emotions of artists through high color selection and popping forms, or it can also be said that the paintings of this Fauvism school have a passion that appears in their paintings.
4. The object of the painting is an everyday object
Fauvism artists tend to paint landscapes or scenes from everyday life. Everyday objects are a source of inspiration for Fauvism artists because they are considered uncomplicated, and Fauvism artists can play a wider and unlimited range of colors.
Concept Art in Fauvism
In accordance with the understanding and origins of the Fauvism school, this school has an art concept that departs from efforts to perfect the Impressionism school that was present and was used mainstream by artists.
The flow of Fauvism departs from the denial of Paul Gauguin’s style which carries the decorative style and expressionism of Van Gogh. although it is not the same as the impressionism school, but in the fauvism flow, the paintings from the fauves show the same and consistent technique.
The difference is that in Fauvism paintings, they always have the same traits and characteristics, namely the strength in the use of color, dashed and firm lines, and the appearance of the painting object which is irregular or disorganized appearance .
Freedom and spontaneity in Fauvism painting is one of the personal responses in which fauves artists can be equated with expressionism.
Fauvism is included in the history of fine arts in the West. Apart from learning about the history of art schools born in the west, Sinaumed’s can also study art schools in the east. What and how are the characteristics of the existing eastern art schools? If you want to find out more, Sinaumed’s can read material on the history of eastern art in a book entitled ‘Sejarah Seni Rupa’ which is available at sinaumedia.com!
Figures in the Flow of Fauvism
In the flow of Fauvism, there are several important figures who carry the flow of Fauvism in each of his works. Here are some important figures in the flow of Fauvism.
1. Henri Matisse
The first figure who played a major role in the flow of Fauvism was Henri Matisse. He is the father figure of Fauvism and is known as one of the biggest rivals of the famous artist, Pablo Picasso.
Henri Matisse was initially interested in Cubism, but Henri Matisse also rejected the general idea of Cubism. Matisse prefers to continue to develop Fauvism along with his group.
Matisse is of the opinion that art must still have a soft and calming side, but on the other hand art must not be stiff like the flow of cubism.
Almost all of the key characteristics and ideas in Fauvism appear in every work of Henri Matisse. However, Matisse still has one characteristic, namely freedom when he draws.
He doesn’t want to get too technical instead of fixating on accuracy. So that all the burden of the painting process appears in each of his works. Therefore, in each of Matisse’s works, he allows the appearance of anatomical errors and slightly deviated forms. However, the expressions depicted by Matisse are not obscured by the mistakes in the painting.
As the father of Fauvism, Henri Matisse believed that art should not create difficulties for the artist. Instead, art should be able to provide joy in the process.
2. Maurice de Vlaminck
One of Henri Matisse’s colleagues was Maurice de Vlaminck who also competed with Cubism artists, such as Pablo Picasso. These two Fauvism artists have something in common, namely the ability to innovate and create something new.
For Pablo Picasso, ideas were cubism, while for Vlaminck and colleagues innovation was the expressive use of bright colors and was nothing but fauvism.
Vlaminck is one of those artists whose role is to be a true pioneer of modern art. However, Vlaminck is also one of the artists who is vocal when criticizing the development of modern art.
Maurice de Vlaminck is unique from his fellow fauvists. He uses a bolder outline that is heavy and dark in contrast to the color of the shape he made himself. Examples include soft, light and bright colors.
The hallmark of Vlaminck, eventually became a focal point and an addition to the style of Fauvism which is already very contrasting and expressive from other art streams.
The uniqueness possessed by Vlaminck is not only seen in each of his paintings, but also seen in his attitude. For example, his hypocritical attitude towards modern art, but modern art can also be seen in the styles of his paintings.
Another attitude is when Vlaminck often insults the flow of cubism, but in some of his paintings he is also seen using the cubism style.
3. André Derain
Derain also had a major role in the development of two significant artistic movements at the beginning of the 20th century. Together with Matisse, Vlaminck, Derain also succeeded in producing Fauvism.
Different from other members of the Fauvism group, Derain is actually quite close and not a rival of the Cubism school like the other two figures. Derain is considered to be quite close to Pablo Picasso so that Derain’s presence is considered as a process of synthesis from fauvism and Picasso’s ideas which became an integral part of early cubism.
However, Derain’s contribution when producing some of the ideas behind the movement continues to be debated. Some also consider that Derain only provides derivative ideas.
The debate about Derain’s ideas arises because of the fact that Derain is constantly looking for artistic meaning and strives to create timeless art that has been erased in the peculiarities of modern times.
But throughout Andre Derain’s life, he continued to perform various experiments using various idioms in painting styles. Derain became one of the important figures who started the spread of modern art in the world.
4. Kees Van Dongen
Van Dongen is one of the figures in the Fauvism school who has works with the strongest Fauvism flow. Although he was not an innovator, like the other three figures of Fauvism, Van Dongen succeeded in adapting the colors with Fauvism lines to the paintings of women depicted living in luxury.
One of his famous paintings is when he depicts women’s jewelry. The painting was then considered very brilliant with images of the luxurious clothes of the dancers and artists.
Apart from these paintings, Van Dongen also continued to paint with passion. He also describes his passion for painting in the flow of Fauvism in accordance with the flow of the group he follows.
Not only that, the painting by Van Dongen is also recognized as the most brilliant of the paintings he previously made after 1920. However, unfortunately Kees Van Dongen is considered to be too immersed in the artwork he paints by depicting worldly life. In addition, his work was also considered inferior compared to the works of other fauvism schools at that time.
5. Raoul Dufy
The fifth figure of Fauvism is an artist from France. As an artist with a Fauvism style, most of Dufy’s works use painting subjects with luxurious and exclusive nuances.
He succeeded in making one of the largest paintings in the modern era at that time. The painting is titled La Fee Electricite which depicts the history and importance of electricity in the 20th century.
Unlike other fauvism figures, Dufy also contributed to the fashion sector at that time by associating with a fashion designer named Paul Poiret. From this association, Dufy became an artist with a stable financial condition.
That is the explanation of the flow of Fauvism. If Sinaumed’s wants to know more about other modern art schools, Sinaumed’s can learn more by reading books related to modern art schools available at sinaumedia.com
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