Bougival, Maurice de Vlaminck

Bougival, Maurice de Vlaminck (1905)

The term "fauvism" was coined in 1905 when a critic used "wild beasts" ("les fauves") to describe a group of artists who employed pure, nonrealistic color and aggressive brushwork. Vlaminck, along with Henri Matisse and André Derain, were the major proponents of this movement.

"Bougival" is one of the finest compositions Vlaminck painting during his brief yet prolific period as a fauve painter. It is characterized by a strong compositional balance, harmony of vibrant colors, and confident placement of brushstrokes. Following the French classical tradition of landscape painting, Vlaminck organized the canvas into three zones. Vibrant yellows and reds, highlighted by dashes of pink, animate the foreground, while deeper greens, blues, and yellows dominate the middle of the picture. In the background, a softer blend of colors creates an impression of deeper spatial recession in the river and sky.