Description
If Raoul DUFY has long known a kind of oblivion, he undoubtedly owes it to the appearance of lightness with which his work is marked. However, its abundant production and the multiplicity of the disciplines approached incite curiosity and admiration. At DUFY, inspiration circulates from one area to another, and its different forms of pictorial and decorative expression dialogue with each other. Whether in painting, drawing or the decorative arts, DUFY has always shown himself to be a craftsman concerned with mastering his art, applying himself to each new technique used, to unlock its secrets.
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Raoul DUFY (1877-1953) followed the lessons of Léon Bonnat * at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, before adopting the impressionist manner and then joining Fauvism in 1906. From 1908, he participated with Braque in the experiments of nascent cubism. A trip to Munich opened him up to the world of decorative arts during which he broadened his field of activity: he produced his first woodcuts and worked on fabric projects for the designer Poiret * and the Bianchini-Férier * house. This collaboration marks the beginning of a long journey dedicated to printing on fabrics and tapestry. A great decorator, he is also interested in ceramics, theater sets and book illustration thanks to his mastery of wood engraving. In painting, he asserts his style stimulated by the art of Matisse. Several renowned critics are interested in his work. Painter of social life, he casts – through his watercolors and his oils – a humorous look at a world he likes to frequent. The 1937 Exhibition offered DUFY the opportunity to create a monumental fresco as a wall decoration, showing his great mastery of design and space.
In 1915, DUFY was put at the disposal of the Ministry of Public Instruction and Fine Arts. He is employed at the War Museum as deputy curator to reorganize the collections. At that time, he regularly provided sketches for Bianchini-Férier, directly inspired by current events or by historical imagery.
When DUFY approached Jean Lurcat * in the 1930s, tapestry and medieval tradition experienced a real revival. The representation of this castle testifies to a balance in the composition and a precision in the drawing.
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* Léon Bonnat, 1833-1922, is a French painter, engraver and art collector.
* Paul Poiret, 1879-1944, is a great French couturier known for his daring. Considered a precursor of the Art Deco style, he created his fashion house in 1903.
* Bianchini-Férier is a silk factory founded in 1888 in Lyon. Thanks to its tradition of quality and creation, the house moved to Paris around 1912, and quickly collaborated with the biggest names in haute couture and ready-to-wear.
* Jean Lurçat, 1892-1966, is a painter, ceramist and designer of French tapestry. He owes his fame to his tapestry works, the language of which he deeply renovated in the 20th century.
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