Office de tourisme de Collioure

The Fauvism in Collioure

Fauvism

In 1905, Henri Matisse was penniless and wanted to give his artistic career another go.

Setting off for Collioure later that year,
he was amazed by astonishing character and charm of this little historical village.
Collioure, with the sea on one side, and overlooking hillsides of terraced vineyards on the other, instantly became his main source of inspiration.

A new artistic movement emerged when artists such as Henri Matisse, André Derain, Etienne Terrus, Aristide Maillol and Daniel de Monfreid converged and exchanged ideas.
As a result, these artists completely rejected the conventions of the period, and developed a style based on strong emotions and intense colours, emphasising freedom and creativity.
They abandoned pointillism to focus fully on this artistic vision.
The artists worked together in Collioure, focusing closely on emotion and colour and creating art that would later become famous across the world.

In the autumn of that year, Henri Matisse and André Derain exhibited their work from Collioure in the Salon d'Automne in Paris.
Their paintings shocked other artists, and were the subject of intense criticism.
Louis Vauxelle spoke of the 'cage aux fauves', thus giving rise to the name 'Fauvism' to describe this use of intense colour.

MAISON DU FAUVISME

In La Maison du fauvisme, we offer various themed guided tours:

- Le Chemin du Fauvisme.
- Collioure though History
- Reading the correspondence between Derain and Matisse

During your time in Collioure, the Chemin du Fauvisme allows you to retrace these Fauvist paintings.
The Chemin du Fauvisme is a route containing 9 copies of works by these two artists that were painted in Collioure in the summer of 1905.
The Mason du Fauvisme offers individual or group guided tours.
Make the most of our guides' knowledge along this use of intense colours.
Guided tours are available from March until the end of October, with group guided tours available all year round (by reservation only).

Please find more information about la maison du fauvisme by clicking below: La maison du fauvisme