Fountain in Avignon 1913

Editor: Raoul Dufy’s "Fountain in Avignon," painted in 1913, is full of interesting shapes rendered with oil paint. It’s almost overwhelmingly verdant, the foliage seeming to spill out from the canvas. How do you interpret this work, thinking about its historical context? Curator: Dufy painted this during a period of significant artistic and social upheaval. Think about the rise of Fauvism, and how that might have shaped his bold color choices and flattened perspective. Consider the rise of tourism and leisure during that era too, and the appeal of portraying idyllic scenes. This is less about the *actual* Avignon and more about an idealized vision accessible to an increasingly mobile middle class. What strikes you about that tension? Editor: I guess I hadn’t really thought about it as a promotional image of sorts. It feels so immediate, like he just set up his easel and painted what he saw. The composition, with the fountain obscured by the foliage, doesn’t seem very commercial. Curator: Right, but that’s also the skill. It *appears* spontaneous, natural. The impressionistic brushwork reinforces that feeling, but consider the staging. Dufy's selecting a view, simplifying forms. He presents Avignon as a vibrant, almost exotic destination, packaged for consumption by a public hungry for beauty and escape. Does that perspective shift how you view his technique? Editor: It does, actually. I see now how the artistic choices are reflecting – and maybe even shaping – societal trends. Curator: Exactly! And remembering that keeps the piece relevant to today's image culture too, a reminder of how 'natural' settings are very cleverly constructed by painters, advertisers, and social media influencers alike. Editor: It’s amazing to consider how art functions within these power dynamics. I will look for similar details in future works. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It’s always exciting to view artwork from different perspectives.