André Derain (1880-1954) was a French artist specialising in sculpture and painting, he is best known for co-founding the Fauvism moment with Henri Matisse. He was an early adherent of Cubism and one of the first to the discovery of primitive art. His work is characterised by bold colours, fierce brushwork and representational values that were retained by impressionism. Emerging in France at the beginning of the 20th century, Derain began his career while studying engineering at the Acdémie Camillo. In-between his classes at the school he would take painting lessons with the symbolist painter Eugène Carrière, this is where he met Henri Matisse.

From 1901 to 1904 he served in the military becoming fully committed to painting after, attending the Académie Julian. This is when he began to experiment with a pointillist technique in his work, he did this by applying solid colours straight onto the canvas. In 1905 he showed his paintings that were exceptionally colourful alongside Matisse at the Salon d’Autonme. This earned his work the title of “les fauves,” by critic Louis Vauxcelles. This began the start of the Fauvism movement.  The paintings that marked the height of the movement for Derain were commissioned by art dealer, Abroise Vollard. The paintings portrayed London’s landscapes all in vibrant colours.

Derain was also a profound printmaker, often showing start contrasts between the white paper that was alongside the black ink. As well as experimenting with woodcuts. He would cut the blocks so that the heavy outlines mark the boundaries of the flat and simplified shapes and linear patterns. Derain’s studio was purchased for a large sum of money by Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler in 1907 allowing him financial stability to experiment with new styles of art.

Acquiring a neoclassical style after World War 1,his direction become more conservative allowing him to enjoy high profile commissions and having the title of one of the best representatives for French painting that led him to be awarded the Carnegie Prize in 1928. Now his works are held at highly established galleries such as the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the Tate Gallery in London to name a few.