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Kees van DongenDutch artist, one of the founders of Fauvism
Date of Birth: 26.01.1877
Country:  Netherlands |
Content:
- Kees van Dongen: A Dutch Fauvist Master
- Move to Paris and Fauvism
- Portraits and Recognition
- Personal Life and Family
- Later Career and Legacy
- Recent Sales
Kees van Dongen: A Dutch Fauvist Master
Early Life and EducationCornelius Theodorus Marie van Dongen (1877-1968) was born in Delfshaven, Netherlands, and was the second of four children. From 1892 to 1897, he studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Rotterdam, producing sketches of sailors and prostitutes in the red-light district. Inspired by anarchist ideas, he illustrated a Dutch edition of Peter Kropotkin's "Anarchy" in 1895.
Move to Paris and Fauvism
In 1899, van Dongen moved to Paris, where he participated in various exhibitions, including the famous Autumn Salon of 1905, which also featured works by Henri Matisse. The vibrant colors of their paintings gave rise to the name of the new group of artists: the Fauves, or "wild beasts." Van Dongen was simultaneously involved with the German Expressionist group Die Brücke and drew caricatures for the Parisian newspaper La Revue blanche.
Portraits and Recognition
Around this time, van Dongen painted his portrait of Fernande Olivier, which brought him fame, according to Gertrude Stein in "The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas." Despite his initial denial, van Dongen admitted to using Olivier as his model.
Personal Life and Family
In 1911, van Dongen married artist Augusta Preitinger, whom he met at the Academy. They had two children: a son who died shortly after birth and a daughter, Dolly, who was born in 1905. During World War I, van Dongen returned to Rotterdam, but upon his return to Paris, he was commissioned by wealthy individuals for portraits.
Later Career and Legacy
Van Dongen's later works, including his portrait of Brigitte Bardot in 1958, were commercially successful but lacked the eroticism and vivid colors of his early career. Six of his works are housed in the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Recent Sales
In February 2008, van Dongen's "Ouled Naïl" sold for a record price of €7.5 million at Christie's in London. On February 1, 2010, his works "La Gitane" (The Gypsy) and "Les escarpins mauves" sold for over €8 million and €2.3 million, respectively.
