The Van Dongen Nobody Knows : Early and Fauvist Drawings 1895-1912 Book

The Dutch artist Kees Van Dongen (1877-1968) is best known for his later work in Paris, where he gained fame for his colorful Fauvist canvases, his portraits of international figures and the Parisian beaumonde, and above all for his female nudes. This book provides an entirely new picture of the first 20 years of Van Dongen's artistic career, when he worked as a pure draftsman. These early years witnessed his left-wing, anarchist attitudes, his concentration on free expressive drawings, and his experimentation with a Neo-Impressionist palette. A large number of previously unknown, unpublished drawings are included, offering fresh proof of his unique artistry. They demonstrate that Van Dongen's early work possesses an individual strength and originality which justify his ranking among the most important artists of his day.