Paper

Student Artwork Guide

The River

Maurice de Vlaminck

Name Class Date
Maurice de Vlaminck, The River. Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Maurice de Vlaminck originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/maurice-de-vlaminck/
Artist’s dates
1876 – 1958
Movement
Fauvism Wild, unnatural colour used straight from the tube — critics called the painters "wild beasts".

Copyright This work is still under copyright. Maurice de Vlaminck died in 1958; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2028. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 10, 2026

The River — Maurice de Vlaminck Part 1 · The artwork

In context

The River — Maurice de Vlaminck

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1870
  2. 1880
  3. 1890
  4. 1900
  5. 1910
  6. 1920
  7. 1930
  8. 1940
  9. 1950

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 82 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Maurice de Vlaminck (1876–1958) every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1906 Main working years: 1906–1918 Late works: from 1918

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/maurice-de-vlaminck-the-river-7ZCTE6-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Phthalo Green #2d2920

    Catalogued palette

    • #2D2920
    • #B5B1AA
    • #EAECE8
    • #7C6644

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Phthalo Green
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Softly Mixed Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Maurice de Vlaminck over the last twelve months — 18 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 43.1%4,400 visits
    2. 2 France 22.5%2,300 visits
    3. 3 Argentina 5.9%600 visits
    4. 4 United States of America 5.9%600 visits
    5. 5 Brazil 3.9%400 visits
    6. 6 Italy 2.9%300 visits
    7. 7 Chile 2.0%200 visits
    8. 8 Germany 2.0%200 visits
    9. 9 Egypt 2.0%200 visits
    10. 10 United Kingdom 2.0%200 visits
    11. · 8 other countries 7.8%800 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Maurice de Vlaminck

    1. 1 Houses at Chatou 14.1%2,300 visits
    2. 2 Bridge at Chatou 12.3%2,000 visits
    3. 3 Restaurant at Marly-le-Roi, ca Mu, 1905 4.9%800 visits
    4. 4 Autumn Landscape, 1905 4.3%700 visits
    5. 5 Thatched Cottages at the Roadside 3.1%500 visits
    6. 6 Restaurant de la Machine at Bougival 3.1%500 visits
    7. 7 The gardener 2.5%400 visits
    8. 8 Tugboat on the Seine, Chatou 2.5%400 visits
    9. 9 The bridge of the railway at Chatou, 1908 2.5%400 visits
    10. 10 Portrait of Derain, 1905 1.8%300 visits
    11. 11 Banks of the Seine at Chatou 1.8%300 visits
    12. 12 The circus, Galerie Beyeler, Basel, 1906 1.8%300 visits
    13. 13 Man Smoking a Pipe, 1900 1.8%300 visits
    14. 14 The Road, 1958 1.8%300 visits
    15. 15 Village 1.8%300 visits
    16. 16 The harvest in the storm, 1946 1.2%200 visits
    17. 17 Portrait of Guillaume Apollinaire 1.2%200 visits
    18. 18 The red trees 1.2%200 visits
    19. 19 Still Life with Lemons, 1914 1.2%200 visits
    20. — The River this painting 0.0%0 visits

    Together these works take 64.9% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 198 works by this artist, of which 67 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 10, 2026

    The River — Maurice de Vlaminck Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Maurice de Vlaminck

    Born in Paris, France

    Early Life and Career

    Born: April 4, 1876, Paris, France

    Died: October 11, 1958

    Maurice de Vlaminck was born in Paris to a Flemish father who taught violin and a mother from Lorraine who taught piano. This musical upbringing influenced his artistic sensibility.

    He began painting relatively late in life, around the age of 20. Initially self-taught, he developed a passionate and instinctive approach to art.

    The Fauvist Movement and Artistic Style

    Vlaminck is considered a key figure in the Fauve movement (1904-1908), characterized by its intense use of color and simplified forms.

    Alongside André Derain and Henri Matisse, he was part of this revolutionary group that challenged traditional artistic conventions.

    His style is marked by:

    Bold Color Choices: Vlaminck used vibrant, non-naturalistic colors to express emotion rather than represent reality accurately.

    Energetic Brushwork: His paintings feature thick, visible brushstrokes that convey a sense of dynamism and spontaneity.

    Simplified Forms: He often reduced objects and landscapes to their essential shapes, prioritizing expressive power over detailed representation.

    Notable early works include "Sur le zinc" (At the Bar) and "L'homme à la pipe" (Man Smoking a Pipe), showcasing his distinctive style.

    Influences and Artistic Development

    Impressionism: Vlaminck’s compositions demonstrate familiarity with Impressionist techniques, particularly in their focus on capturing fleeting moments and the effects of light.

    Vincent van Gogh: A profound influence on Vlaminck was Vincent van Gogh. After visiting a Van Gogh exhibition, he famously declared his admiration for the artist. This is evident in Vlaminck's expressive brushwork and emotional intensity.

    Paul Cézanne: From 1908 onwards, Vlaminck’s palette shifted towards more monochromatic tones, influenced by the work of Paul Cézanne.

    Later Work: His later paintings often featured a darker palette with heavy strokes of contrasting white paint, reflecting a shift in his artistic focus and emotional expression.

    Major Achievements and Historical Significance

    Vlaminck’s participation in the Salon d'Automne exhibitions (particularly in 1905) helped to establish Fauvism as a significant force in modern art.

    His paintings are celebrated for their raw energy, emotional intensity, and innovative use of color.

    He played a crucial role in bridging the gap between Impressionism and Expressionism, paving the way for future artistic developments.

    Vlaminck’s work continues to be admired for its unique blend of spontaneity, passion, and technical skill.

    Legacy and Available Works

    Today, Vlaminck's works are held in numerous museums and private collections worldwide.

    His paintings, such as "Bougival" and "The Bridge at Chatou," remain highly sought after by art collectors.

    AllPaintingsStore offers a selection of his artworks for viewing and purchase, providing an opportunity to experience the vibrancy of his Fauvist style.

    Where to read more

    • The artist Maurice de Vlaminck originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/maurice-de-vlaminck/
    • Similar works More works to compare originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/maurice-de-vlaminck-the-river-7ZCTE6-en/

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for The River

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/maurice-de-vlaminck-the-river-7ZCTE6-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Vlaminck, Maurice de. The River. n.d., https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/maurice-de-vlaminck-the-river-7ZCTE6-en/
    APA
    Vlaminck, Maurice de (n.d.). The River [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/maurice-de-vlaminck-the-river-7ZCTE6-en/
    Chicago
    Maurice de Vlaminck. The River. n.d. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/maurice-de-vlaminck-the-river-7ZCTE6-en/
    Harvard
    Vlaminck, Maurice de (n.d.) The River. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/maurice-de-vlaminck-the-river-7ZCTE6-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 10, 2026

    The River — Maurice de Vlaminck Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    The River — Maurice de Vlaminck

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: buildings, rivers. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Autumn Landscape (1905), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Fauvism: Wild, unnatural colour used straight from the tube — critics called the painters "wild beasts". Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 10, 2026

    The River — Maurice de Vlaminck Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    Is a high-resolution download of "The River" available?

    "The River" is available as a high-resolution digital image download, purchased directly on its Digital Image page.

    Do the colors of "The River" appear strong or soft?

    "The River" by Maurice de Vlaminck shows a monochromatic color intensity.

    Who is the author of "The River", and in which movement?

    "The River" was created by Maurice de Vlaminck in the Fauvism style. Artist and movement identify the work's tradition.