Maurice de Vlaminck is primarily recognized for his pivotal role in the Fauvism movement that emerged in the early 20th century. Born in Paris in 1876 to a French mother and Flemish father, he did attend some drawing classes, but he was mostly self-taught and took pride in rebuffing the traditional academic system. His artistic journey began at the age of 23, following a serendipitous meeting with the painter André Derain, who would go on to become his lifelong friend. Together with Henri Matisse, they played a pivotal role in shaping Fauvism, a movement characterized by bold brushwork, simplified forms, and vibrant, non-naturalistic colors. In the years leading up to World War I, Vlaminck’s artistic style underwent a transformation. His palette became slightly more subdued, and he placed greater emphasis on the solidity and underlying structure of landscapes. This change was influenced by the work of Paul Cézanne, whose posthumous retrospective exhibition in Paris in 1907 had a profound impact on many artists of the era. Works by Vlaminck can be found in a number of influential international art collections like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Art Institute of Chicago; Hermitage, St. Petersburg; Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid; Kunstmuseum Basel; Musée National d’Art Moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris; Musée d’Orsay, Paris; the Tate Collection, London.