Highly gifted, he started painting at the School of Fine Arts in Rotterdam, then at the age of twenty went to Paris where he led a hand-tomouth existence for some years. Like Villon and Steinlen, he contributed to various satirical magazines. Felix Feneon wrote the preface to his 1904 exhibition at Vollard's. From 1905 onwards he became an enthusiastic Fauve and took part in the group's exhibitions. During 1907 he lived at the famous Bateau-Lavoir in the rue Ravignan, and became friendly with Picasso. In 1912 he settled in Montparnasse, where his studio was the scene of some famous fancy-dress gatherings. His Fauvist period included Danseuse borgne (1905), The Clown (1905), Riders in the Bois de Boulvgne (c. 1906), Girl with the Big Hat (1906) and Women at the Balustrade (1910). He then penetrated the society world, specialising in spirited, often sarcastic, portraits unsparing of his sitters' idiosyncrasies. His female likenesses of 1905 to 1910 created quite a scandal. Once his reputation was established his portraits were much in demand. His other works include Woman with the Yellow Shawl, an extremely daring nude; The Lady with the Dog, 1910; The Lady in Black; and Femme au Jabot. During the Mad Thirties he lived inParis, Deauville and Cannes. Mentionmust also be made of his rare talent forlandscape painting, where he shows bothdelicacy and restraint.

Post-Impressionism, Michel-Claude Jalard, Edito Service SA, Geneva