André Derain

André Derain (1880-1954), began his apprenticeship with the painter Jacomin and attended the Académie Camillo. Then in 1900, he created a joint studio with Maurice de Vlaminck, with whom he had become close. The two painters produced realistic paintings. From 1904, Derain painted mainly in pure color in order to distance himself from any conventional and limiting contact. The following year, he exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants, then at the Salon d'Automne where he was exhibited in the room called "La cage aux fauves", he thus became the leader of Fauvism. The art dealer Ambroise Vollard acquired all the works in his studio. Derain stayed in Collioure with Henri Matisse, and there discovered a new conception of light, applying to his canvas a multiplicity of small touches of bright colors.