Fauvism is the style of les Fauves (French for “the wild beasts”), a loose group of early twentieth-century Modern artists whose works emphasized painterly qualities and strong color over the representational or realistic values retained by Impressionism. While Fauvism as a style began around 1900 and continued beyond 1910, the movement as such lasted only a few years, 1904–1908, and had three exhibitions. The leading Fauvist artists were Henri Matisse, André Derain, and Maurice de Vlaminck. Henri Matisse who was to become the most enduring Fauvist, and one of the most important artists of the 20th century.

The works of Fauvist artists, marked by audacious transpositions, forceful brushstrokes and the emotional use of color was inspired by Impressionism and the works of Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Signac.