Exploring Diverse Forms to Reveal the Artist's Essence Beyond the Play of Color and Light

Raoul Dufy, known as the "Magician of Color," was active in France in the first half of the 20th century alongside artists like Picasso and Matisse. His unique style, characterized by vibrant colors and light brushwork, exudes brilliance and effervescence, continuing to captivate audiences today.

However, the focus on his cheerful side has sometimes led to his essential qualities being overlooked. The poet and art critic Guillaume Apollinaire himself described him as "an unrecognized great painter." This exhibition meticulously examines Dufy's diverse artistic expressions to uncover the artist's true essence, lying beyond his playful use of color and light.

The exhibition spans a wide range of his works, from his youth as a student learning art in Paris after coming from the port town of Normandy, through periods of intense focus on non-painting endeavors such as woodblock prints, textile design, and book illustrations, to his golden age when he returned to the canvas. With cooperation from European museums holding significant Dufy collections, including the Musée National d'Art Moderne (Centre Pompidou), the exhibition features approximately 150 pieces, encompassing oil paintings, prints, drawings, watercolors, textiles, and furniture.

Raoul Dufy, "Window on the Promenade at Nice," 1928, Oil on canvas, Shimane Art Museum © ADAGP, Paris & JASPAR, Tokyo, 2014 E0972

Raoul Dufy, "Homage to Claude Debussy," 1952, Oil on canvas, Musée d'Art Moderne André Malraux, Le Havre © Florian Kleinefenn

Notably, Dufy, who grew up in a family of music lovers, created many works related to music and iconic pieces depicting the sun-drenched South of France. These will be exhibited in Japan, alongside masterpieces such as "The Kessler Family on Horseback," a monumental work measuring two meters high and 2.7 meters wide, commissioned by the wealthy British landowner Jean-Baptiste Auguste Kessler as a family portrait.

How did Dufy arrive at a creative state that produced works overflowing with vivid colors and light? This exhibition offers a compelling exploration of his life and his diverse artistic practices, including printmaking, textile design, and watercolors, shedding light on his work beyond oil painting.

Tokyo Venue
Dates | Saturday, June 7 - Sunday, July 27 (Closed only on Wednesday, July 2)
Hours | 10:00 - 19:00
Venue | Bunkamura The Museum
2-24-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-3477-9111
Admission | General ¥1500, University/High School Students ¥1000, Junior High/Elementary School Students ¥700

Osaka Venue
Dates | Tuesday, August 5 - Sunday, September 28 (Closed Mondays, except Monday, September 15, which is a public holiday)
Hours | 10:00 - 20:00 (Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays until 18:00)
Venue | Abeno Harukas Art Museum
Abeno Harukas 16F, 1-1-43 Abenosuji, Abeno-ku, Osaka
Tel. 06-4399-9050
Admission | General ¥1400, University/High School Students ¥1000, Junior High/Elementary School Students ¥500

Nagoya Venue
Dates | Thursday, October 9 - Sunday, December 7
Venue | Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art
1-13-2 Higashisakura, Higashi-ku, Nagoya
Tel. 052-971-5511