Raoul Dufy – Artwork and Bio of the French Painter

Raoul Dufy was a French printmaker and painter born on 3 June 1877 in Le Havre, France. In 1895, he began taking art lessons under Charles Lhuillier at the municipal art school in Le Havre. He moved to Paris and enrolled at the Ecole Nationale superieure des Beaux-Arts in 1900. As a result, Raoul started creating artworks, applying Impressionist techniques to his paintings.

Raoul held the first exhibition of his artworks in 1901 at the Exhibition of French Artists. Afterward, he exhibited with the Salon des Independants and at Berthe Weill’s gallery. By 1905, Raoul had adopted the bright coloring techniques of Fauvism.

Two years later, inspired by Paul Cezanne, Raoul employed Cubist techniques in his paintings and worked with Braque. However, he soon returned to his more familiar Fauvist style, which he stuck to till his death. Raoul won the grand prize for painting at the Venice Biennale in 1952. He died in Forcalquier on 23 March 1953 of intestinal bleeding.

What was Raoul Dufy Known For?

Raoul Dufy was known for the colorful and decorative appearance of his artworks. Using a palette of bright colors, Raoul spread oil paint on a white canvas surface and depicted objects with lines. He famously painted recreational scenes such as parades and horse races.

Who was Raoul Dufy Influenced By?

Raoul Dufy was influenced by Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, and Georges Braque. Raoul experimented with different techniques in his art career, influenced by various artists for each style. Henri’s artworks at the 1905 Salon des Independants exhibition influenced Raoul’s colorful and decorative style.