A Brave Explorers

In the early20th century, modern painting genre has witnessed the rapid commencement and development. With this opportunity, Andre Derain initiated the precedent for modern painting genre-Fauvism along with Matisse and many other artists. Andre Derain came on the scene in artistic history and gained considerable fame in his time as a representative of Fauvism. But he was soon forgotten by the world. Many people know very little about Derain’s process of artistic exploration after the establishment of Fauvism. It was not until1994did his position in the history of art slowly show when the Paris Museum of Modern Art made a major retrospective exhibition of Derain. Since then, people have had a more comprehensive understanding of the artist who died40years ago.The thesis, with the artistic development of Derain as the time clue, explores the artistic achievements of Derain in Fauvism and in the practical and theoretical exploration of modern art. The thesis also concerns such problems as the origin of Derain’s Fauvism, the relationship of Derain and other major painters of Fauvism, Derain’s exploration of Gothic art, his retrospect of classical art and its spirit, his comment on the crisis of modern art and the evaluation of his artistic exploration in his lifetime. Finally the thesis summarizes the additional comments on the artists. It is therefore a combination of historical data and works, with both consensus and controversy for comparison.