André Derain. Art is a game

André Derain (1880–1954) played a role in the emergence of two major artistic movements: Fauvism and Cubism. Throughout his life, he retained the ability to reinvent himself, asserting: “Art is a game—a noble game, perhaps, but nothing more than a game.” He experimented and improvised, drawing inspiration from all the forms he encountered (African and Oceanic arts, folk art) and gathering materials from his surroundings to create his works, juggling one technique after another: painting, but also sculptures in stone, clay, or metal; woodcuts; theater sets and costumes; and polychrome ceramics… ​

Centered on the notion of play as a driving force for creation and imitation, the exhibition offers a fresh perspective on Derain’s entire career and reveals lesser-known aspects of his body of work. The chronological and thematic itinerary showcases his rich body of sculptural work and punctuates each section with major counterpoints (Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse…)—encounters, affinities, and rivalries that stimulated his creativity.