| Modern painter Maurice de Vlaminck was born on April | | | | "Circus" (1906) are some examples of his 'Fauvist' |
| 4, 1876, in Paris. Both his parents were musicians. His | | | | works. By 1907, Vlaminck's painting style evolved to |
| mother, Josephine Grillet, was a pianist and his father, | | | | experimental 'Cubism,' which was later described as |
| Edmond Julien de Vlaminck, was a violinist. Music was | | | | negated painting. In 1908, he began painting 'Realist' |
| like second nature to Maurice. He learned to play violin | | | | landscapes, quite close to Paul Cezanne's style. With |
| and bass from his father. At the age of 16, the artist | | | | time, Maurice's paintings became more orderly with |
| moved to Paris to learn painting under painter Henri | | | | subdued color. "The Potato Pickers" (1907) "Barges" |
| Rigalon. He earned his living as a violinist and a bicycle | | | | (1908-1910) and "The Flood, Ivry" (1910) are his |
| racer. Vlaminck married Suzanne Berly in 1894 and | | | | "Post-Fauvism" works. By 1910, he was famous all |
| later joined the army. | | | | over Europe. In 1911, he went to London and painted |
| In 1900, at the age of 23, Maurice de Vlaminck's artistic | | | | views of Thames. In 1913, he painted in association with |
| ambitions rekindled on a chance meeting with Andre | | | | Derain. |
| Derain in a train to Paris, towards the last phase of his | | | | Vlaminck's assignment of duty in Paris during the |
| assignment in army. Together, they rented a studio to | | | | World War I, in around 1914, interrupted his painting. |
| paint after Vlaminck's stint in the army ended. The | | | | During his stint in defense, the artist wrote poetries. |
| studio lasted for a year, until Derain left for his | | | | After the war too, the artist stayed back in Paris and |
| assignment in forces. Vlaminck attended an exhibition | | | | opened a painting studio here. His exhibition of 1919 at |
| of Vincent Van Gogh's works in 1901. Gogh's bold use | | | | Druet was a huge success and he then bought a |
| of colors floored Maurice. The artist later met Claude | | | | house in Valmondois. By this time, Vlaminck had |
| Monet and Henri Matisse in 1902. During 1902-03, | | | | developed a strong 'Expressionist' style, using |
| Maurice wrote many novels with slight pornographic | | | | impetuous brushwork and cool earthy colors. Among |
| flavor. Derain illustrated them. For his artistic interest, | | | | his most characteristic late canvases are "Sunset" |
| Vlaminck would paint during day and would teach violin | | | | (1938), "Hamlet in Snow" (1943), "Harvest in Storm" |
| and play in music bands at night, to earn his livelihood. | | | | (1948), and "Red Tractor" (1956). Meanwhile, he married |
| Maurice's paintings were mostly "Impressionist" in style. | | | | too for the second time to Berthe Combes. The |
| Matisse encouraged the painter to exhibit at the 'Salon | | | | couple had two daughters. 1925 onwards, the painter |
| des Indépendents' 1904, where two of his | | | | travelled throughout France. |
| groundbreaking paintings of 1900 were displayed, "At | | | | Maurice de Vlaminck was self taught and painted just |
| the Bar," and "Man Smoking a Pipe." In 1905, Matisse, | | | | for the passion of art. He remained resolutely apart |
| Derain, and Vlaminck together exhibited at the 'Salon D | | | | from any accepted norms or the trends of |
| Automne.' Here, the art critic, Louis Vauxcelles, labeled | | | | 'Contemporary Art.' In addition to being a painter, he |
| them as "Fauves," due to their exuberant and | | | | produced lithographs etchings and woodcuts too. |
| uninhibited use of color. | | | | Maurice de Vlaminck died of old age on October 11, |
| "The Daughter of My Neighbor," "Intimacy," "Gardens | | | | 1958. |
| of Chatou" (1904), "Picnic in the Country" (1905), and | | | | |