Maurice de Vlaminck

Maurice de Vlaminck is one of the most important modernist painters and was a member of the expressionist group “Fauves”. After initially taking painting lessons, Vlaminck moved to Chatou in 1892 and became a racing driver and mechanic. Four years later, however, he had to give up this occupation due to illness. In 1900 he became friends with André Derain, who encouraged him to become a painter. Together with him he moved into a studio in Chatou. On the side, Vlaminck wrote novels and for newspapers. After an exhibition of van Gogh’s works, he was so impressed that he oriented his work towards them. Through his acquaintance with Henri Matisse, he joined Fauvism in 1905 and exhibited his works in his first solo exhibition a year later. From 1907 he was influenced by the work of Cézanne, Cubism and finally Impressionism. The First World War led to a pause in his activity, which he resumed from 1918 with a stronger Expressionist tendency. In 1919, an exhibition at the Galerie Druet brought him final recognition and success.