Kees Van Dongen Art for Sale: Prints & Originals

Biography

Kees van Dongen was born in 1877 in the Netherlands. His formative years were spent honing his craft at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Rotterdam, where his talent for portraiture and an eye for the avant-garde began to emerge. It was after moving to Paris in 1897 that van Dongen's artistic trajectory took a decisive turn. Immersing himself in the bohemian lifestyle of Montmartre, he became a fixture of the Parisian art world, rubbing shoulders with luminaries such as Pablo Picasso.

The Fauvist movement provided the perfect backdrop for van Dongen's development. His bold use of colour and expressive brushwork set his work apart, capturing the energy and spirit of the times. The infamous 1905 Salon d'Automne, where he exhibited alongside Henri Matisse and André Derain, marked the arrival of Fauvism and van Dongen’s place within it. His works from this period, such as The Woman With The Large Hat, showcased his ability to blend Fauvist tendencies with insightful portraiture.

Van Dongen’s career was marked by numerous collaborations and influences, including his association with the German Expressionist group Die Brücke. His work from this period continued to explore the realms of colour and form, while increasingly focusing on the depiction of elegant society figures and performers, subjects for which he became renowned.

A highlight of van Dongen's career was his participation in the prestigious Venice Biennale in 1924, which solidified his international reputation. His portraits of the era's socialites and celebrities were highly sought after, and his work became synonymous with the flamboyance and excess of the Roaring Twenties.

Van Dongen's audacity with colour was a hallmark of his style, marking him as a radical artist of his time. His use of intense, non-naturalistic colours and bold, expressive brush strokes aimed not just to depict the world but to evoke an emotional response. His reputation was cemented with his contributions to the 1905 Salon d'Automne, which scandalised and thrilled the Parisian art world in equal measure.
Van Dongen had a particular fascination with the demimonde of Paris, portraying the dancers, singers, and courtesans who defined the city's nightlife. His portraits captured the allure and the hint of danger that these figures represented in the early 20th century. The artist's depictions sought to reveal the complex humanity of his subjects. By doing so, van Dongen became a sought-after portraitist for high society while maintaining his status as an artist of the people.