Art History 207

Maurice de Vlaminck, The Orchard, 1905, oil on canvas, Fauvism 

Through intense and highly saturated colors, Vlaminck shows off the Fauvist style in this vibrant piece. He applies the paints in an incredibly thick and textured manner, reminiscent of Van Gogh (whom he was hugely influenced by). Through color alone, he distinguishes form ad space of the subject matter and doesn’t rely on the use of tones or shadow. The extreme use of orange and red give the foreground a warm feeling while he brings in some cool colors and the space moves further back. The form of the trees also becomes more implied as they become smaller in the top areas of the painting.

Though he had little training in his life, he began seriously painting as soon as he met Andre Derain and began collaborating with him. His paintings of figures, crowds and cities tended to be less saturated and a little more calm than his intense landscapes like The Orchard. He slowly grew out of the Fauvist style but continued to paint until his death in 1958.

artnet, The Art World Online, 2013, Artnet Worldwide Corporation, NY USA, <http://www.artnet.com/artists/maurice+de-vlaminck/biography>