André Derain was born on June 10, 1880. At the age of 15 he painted his first pictures.

In 1898 he entered the Camillo Academy. He met Matisse at the Louvres and then Maurice de Vlaminck with whom he shared a studio and under the influence of whom he turned towards Fauvism. André Derain, a self-taught painter, frequents museums a lot. He is influenced by neo-impressionism and by Paul Cézanne. In 1906, in Collioure, where he joins Matisse, and in London he paints his first colorful works such as the Port of Collioure or London Bridge. He is then considered as one of the first representatives of Fauvism.

When André Derain met Braque and Picasso, he gradually changed direction. In 1907, he began sculpting on stone and moved to Montmartre near Picasso’s house, where he remained a friend. He illustrated several books including L’enchanteur pourrissant by Guillaume Apollinaire and le mont de Piété by André Breton. Between 1914 and 1920, the shapes become simpler and the colors less vivid.

In 1914, Derain had to join his regiment and do his military service. By exhibiting in Munich and New York, André Derain became extremely famous. In 1928, he was awarded the Carnegie Prize for his work as a set designer for ballets and operas.

During the Second World War he made the unfortunate mistake of accepting an invitation for an official visit to Germany in 1941, which earned him the title of collaborator and persona non-grata after the Liberation. Moreover, after the war, he no longer presents his works to the public.

He died on 8 September 1954 following a car accident in Garches in his home in Chambourcy (Hauts-de-Seine). A large part of his work (80 paintings, 77 sculptures, drawings, but also lithographs and etchings) can be seen at the Museum of Modern Art in Troyes.