Dufy, Raoul

(1877-1953)

   painter, engraver

   Known for his lively outdoor scenes, Raoul Dufy was born in Le Havre and studied at the workshop of léon bonnat in Paris. His first scenes show the influence of henri de toulouse-lautrec, while his landscapes and seascapes show that of claude monet (14 Juillet, 1906). He moved toward fauvism (1906) and spent time with georges braque at l'Es-taque (1908), as evidenced by his use of a more somber palette (Maison dans les arbres). He took up engraving (wood engravings for Guillaume apollonaire's Bestiaire), then, after 1919, developed a more personal style, making frequent trips to the Midi as well as to Italy (1922-23) and Morocco (1925). He produced works with diverse themes: boaters on the Marne, nudes (1918-30), racing scenes, circuses, regattas, flowers, outdoor amusements, portraits, and landscapes (1944) in a lighter and more luminous style, dominated by line. His elegant engravings, as well as his lively vision of the world, show his genius. Dufy also produced a large mural for the Palais de Chaillot in Paris and for other venues, including an immense work (60 m x 10 m), La Fée Électricité (1937). He worked, too, in ceramics, textiles, and tapestries, and created sets for the theater and the ballet.