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Raoul Dufy Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

French, 1877-1953

Raoul Dufy was a renowned French Fauvist painter, famous for his colorful, decorative designs. He was born in Le Havre, Normandy, in 1877. Dufy had a simple upbringing, leaving school at 14 to work at a Brazilian coffee-importing company. His formal artistic education began when he was eighteen at Le Havre's École des Beaux-Arts, where he took evening art classes. He continued to paint within the purlieu of Le Havre and was greatly inspired by the Impressionist landscape painters Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro. In 1900, after serving in the military for one year, Dufy won a scholarship to the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

Dufy began painting watercolors of the Norman landscapes but was soon widely celebrated for his brightly colored and bold contoured paintings – in dialogue with the Fauvist style. He remained faithful to Fauvism until Paul Cézanne’s work guided him to embrace a subtler aesthetic. This new mode of sobriety saw his work return to a lighter style, which he celebrated through rapid inscription-like drawings over vivid backgrounds of color washes.

The rise of Cubism in Paris during the first two decades of the 20th century influenced him to develop a systematic approach that was later known as stenographics. Using this he experimented with foreshortened perspective, thin washes of paint and skeletal structures. In this style, he portrayed the lavish scenes of the French Riviera, leisureliness of the period, and chic revelries. Dufy was also fascinated by other amusements such as regattas, horse races and concerts and loved to depict the excitement and commotion of the crowds.

Dufy had his first exhibition in 1901 at the Salon des Artistes Français, following a string of exhibitions over the following years. In 1906 he took part in the Cercle de l’Art Moderne Exhibition in Le Havre with artists Georges Braque, Henri Matisse and Henri Charles Manguin. Dufy was given his first retrospective in 1921 at the Galerie Bernheim-Jeune and in 1932 his first painting was accepted into a national collection. He celebrated two large commissions for the 1937 Exposition Internationals des Artes et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne. The most notable of the two was the adornment for the Pavilion of Light and Electricity. He was commissioned with the task to illustrate the history of electricity from the classical era to its current position in 20th century developments. He painted La Fée électricité, a huge fresco which was donated to the Musée d’Art Moderne in 1964. In 1952 he represented France at the 26th Venice Biennale, where he won the Gran Premio. A year later he died aged 75, of polyarthritis, an illness he had been suffering from since 1937.

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(Biography provided by Stern Pissarro Gallery)

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Artist: Raoul Dufy
Tirez les Premiers, Messieurs les Français - Impressionist Woodcut by Raoul Dufy
By Raoul Dufy
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Raoul Dufy, French (1877 - 1953) - Tirez les Premiers, Messieurs les Francais, Year: 1915, Medium: Woodcut and Pencil Drawing, signed, dated and numbered in pencil, Edition: 25/10...
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Turfistes et Jockeys
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Pencil on paper Paper size: 8 x 10.5 inches Stamped with the artist’s atelier stamp ‘ATELIER/RAOUL DUFY’ lower right Provenance: Galerie Fanny Guillon-Laffaille, Paris. Neffe-Dega...
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20th Century Impressionist Raoul Dufy Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

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Paper, Pencil

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Raoul Dufy figurative drawings and watercolors for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Raoul Dufy figurative drawings and watercolors available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Raoul Dufy in paper, pencil and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Impressionist style. Not every interior allows for large Raoul Dufy figurative drawings and watercolors, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Henri Duhem, Emile Cagniart, and Camille Pissarro. Raoul Dufy figurative drawings and watercolors prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $16,454 and tops out at $16,454, while the average work can sell for $16,454.
Questions About Raoul Dufy Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Painter, drawer, designer and printmaker Raoul Dufy was greatly inspired by impressionists like Camille Pissarro and Claude Monet. In later years, he took inspiration from Henri Matisse’s Luxe, Calme et Volupté. And even later in his work, he evolved again after connecting with the work of Paul Cézanne and Cubism. After this era, he developed his own style and distinctive artistic approach. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original artwork from top artists.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To paint, Raoul Dufy spread thin layers of quick-drying paint over a white background. Then, he would sketch objects over top using curvy, wavy lines. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Raoul Dufy art from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertJune 6, 2024
    No one knows for sure how many paintings Raoul Dufy painted. However, more than 160 of his works are known. Some of his most famous pieces include Boats at Martigues, Bathers, The Mexican Musicians, The Kessler Family on Horseback and Regatta at Cowes. On 1stDibs, explore a range of Raoul Dufy art.

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