San Diego Museum of Art

Kees van Dongen
Dutch * 1877-1968

"Femme de commerce de revue"
Oil on canvas ca. 1908-1909
Private Collection

Kees van Dongen was born in Rotterdam, where he trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.
From his earliest paintings of prostitutes in the Dutch port's Red Quarter, to the dancehalls and brothels of Paris, the female figure remained Van Dongen's favorite muse.
At the 1905 Salon d"Automne, Van Dongen was among the group of avant-garde painters, including Henri Matisse and Andre Derain, labeled "Fauves" (wild beasts) for their bold use of expressive color.
The subject of this painting, a Parisian prostitute, is typical of Van Dogen's sultry sirens.
The sickly green tone of the femme fatales's skin is offset by the pale pink of her shift and her rouged mouth and cheeks.

Also note the very thick use of paint on the hat, ring, bracelet, and dress lace detail - this differed from preceding styles of oil artwork.
The docent told us this painting was bought by Gertrude Stein's brother. When they displayed it at home, it popularized this new style, creating interest in Van Dongen's work.
The Fauves artists were in direct conflict with the Realists painters like Bouguereau (The Young Shepherdess) from the Royal Academy in Paris.

people: Mary, Sunny, Barbara, Karen, Marsha, Kay, Carole
places: Balboa Park, City Heights
particulars: saw exquisite Indian Miniature Paintings (super detailed!)