Kees van Dongen
b. 1877 and died 1968

Cornelis Theodorus Maria van Dongen was a Dutch painter and one of the most prominent Fauves (“Wild Beasts”) painters. Van Dongen was born in the suburbs of Rotterdam and began his art studies at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Rotterdam where he frequently painted local sailors and prostitutes.

Van Dongen moved to Paris in 1899 and became active with other avant-garde artists and began exhibiting there. In 1905, Van Dongen along with others began painting in bright colors and became know as the Fauves. Their first major exhibit was the controversial Salon d'Automne which included Henri Matisse. Van Dongen is often associated with the quote “Painting is the most beautiful of lies.” He probably came up with this quote after painting numerous portraits from the French bourgeoisie because he painted for their tastes which included enlarging the jewels the women wore and making them look thinner. His most important work was known for its sensual eroticism with bright colors. He has gained tremendous commercial success and in the Fall 2009 evening auctions in London he had four fantastic lots go for over a million pounds each and bring the audience to a rousing applause.