Maurice de Vlaminck was one of the most radical and expressive artists of his time. His works represent the liberation of color and the search for an authentic expression, free from academic conventions. With his intense, often wild visual language, he significantly shaped Fauvism and is still regarded as a pioneering figure in modern art.
Maurice de Vlaminck (1876–1958), one of the most influential French artists of modern times, was part of the Fauves ("The Wild Ones"), a group of artists around Henri Matisse and André Derain who revolutionized painting with their bold use of color and expressive compositions. The exhibition “Maurice de Vlaminck. Rebel of Modernism” at the Von der Heydt Museum and the Museum Barberini presents over 50 works, offering a comprehensive insight into Vlaminck’s oeuvre—from his early compositions and vivid Fauvist paintings to his Cubist experiments and later landscapes in the style of Late Impressionism. A self-taught artist, former cyclist, and musician, Vlaminck developed a unique artistic signature and embraced the image of a rebellious artist who resolutely turned away from academic traditions. Inspired by Vincent van Gogh and highly influential to the avant-garde, Vlaminck is celebrated as a pioneer of modern art.