Maurice Vlaminck

France 1876-1958

This week our class embarked on a creative journey, delving into the rich and vibrant world of Vlaminck and the Fauves. Drawing inspiration from their vivid colors and hues of Fall, we immersed ourselves in the creation of lively landscapes inspired by Maurice de Vlaminck, the renowned French painter, musician, and novelist. He was considered a key figure in the Fauve movement, alongside André Derain and Henri Matisse. This group of modern artists, from 1904 to 1908, shared a common use of intense and vibrant colors. Vlaminck made his mark as one of the Fauves at the controversial Salon d'Automne exhibition in 1905.

Born in Paris, Vlaminck grew up in a musical family, with his Flemish father, Edmond Julien, teaching him the violin. During the day, Vlaminck dedicated his time to painting, while earning a living by giving violin lessons and performing at night with bands. Vlaminck's participation in the 1905 Salon d'Automne exhibition stirred controversy. After witnessing the strikingly bold canvases of Vlaminck, Matisse, and Derain, an art critic dismissively called them "Fauves" or "Wild Beasts". Angered by the overshadowing of Fauvism by Cubism, Vlaminck blamed Picasso for leading French painting down a futile path. Throughout his life, Vlaminck penned multiple autobiographies, chronicling his experiences in the art world.

Vlaminck's compositions displayed a familiarity with the Impressionists, some of whom had previously painted in the same region in the 1870s and 1880s. After attending a Van Gogh exhibition, Vlaminck declared that he admired Van Gogh “even more than his own Father.” During this period, Vlaminck's paintings exuded exuberance through his energetic brushwork and vibrant color choices, influenced by Vincent van Gogh. His landscape paintings followed a similar approach, capturing mood and emotion by disregarding intricate details and focusing on the expressive power of intense colors and dynamic brushstrokes.

His paintings, prints and novels made a significant impact on art and his work is in most major museum collections worldwide.

As we transition into Fall with all of the beauty, the class created their own unique

landscapes that celebrate the colors and atmosphere of the season.

We used a combination of techniques with oil pastels.