Dufy, Raoul << dyoo FEE, ra OOL >> (1877-1953), was a French artist best known for his lively, decorative paintings. Dufy used bright colors and a linear, graphic style to portray a happy, carefree world. His subjects included landscapes, festivals, horse races, still lifes, and figures. Dufy also illustrated books and made woodcuts as well as designing fabrics, tapestries, and theater costumes and sets.
Dufy was born on June 3, 1877, in Le Havre. In 1900, he settled in Paris, where he painted briefly in the impressionist style. Dufy first attracted attention when he exhibited brightly colored paintings of scenes from the life of his day with the Fauves. He then came under the influence of cubism before developing his own distinctive style. Dufy died on March 23, 1953.
