Raoul Dufy

French, 1877 - 1953

Explore selected works

See all 50 works of art
Abstracted sailboats are painted with triangles, squares, stripes, and streaks of mustard yellow, crimson red, mint green, black, and white against a field of vivid cobalt blue, which is the dominant color in this nearly square painting. The water is painted mostly with straight, parallel, horizontal strokes. V and W-shaped squiggles near the top center suggest sunlight glinting off the water at the horizon line, which comes about four-fifths of the way up the canvas. The sky is painted with longer horizontal strokes in shades of cobalt and baby blue. A triangular area of aqua along the right edge of the canvas could be shallow water or land. A double row of colorful square and rectangular nautical flags rise vertically up either side of a mast to left of center. Each is different: for instance, one has green and red stripes, another black and white checkers, while another is crossed with the Union Jack of the United Kingdom. White sails and other flags fill the water across the composition. The artist signed and dated the painting, along with the location, in the lower left corner: "Cowes 1934 Raoul Dufy."
Raoul Dufy, Regatta at Cowes, 1934, oil on linen, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection, 1970.17.30

Regatta at Cowes

Raoul Dufy · 1934 · oil on linen ·  Accession ID  1970.17.30
This painting shows a seaside scene from an elevated point of view. The horizon is placed in the upper third of the painting, where the turquoise-and-green sea meets the sky, which is a blend of green, teal, peach, and lavender. Small sailboats can be seen sailing across the sea, and a few long, white poles appear to stick out of the water. To the left of center, a person in a white rowboat faces the shore, holding two long yellow oars. Closer to us, a group of people gather along the edge of the water, facing away from us. They are in colorful attire, including dresses, coats, and trousers, with some carrying parasols. Their clothes are in shades of red, orange, yellow, green, and white. The ground they stand on has patches of green, gray, yellow, orange and red, and on the left is a collection of colorful flags. The brushstrokes are expressive and visible, especially in the ground and sea. In the bottom right corner, the beige paper is visible on the edges of a section of yellow and orange ground.
Raoul Dufy, The Beach at Sainte-Adresse, 1906, oil on canvas, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John Hay Whitney, 1998.74.3

The Beach at Sainte-Adresse

Raoul Dufy · 1906 · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  1998.74.3
This is a photograph of a vintage book cover. The cover features red illustrations of winged horses and floral motifs against a grey background. The text on the cover includes "GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE" at the top, "LE POÈTE ASSASSINÉ" below it, and "TRENTE-SIX LITHOGRAPHIES DE RAOUL DUFY" towards the center, all in bold lettering. The design is symmetrical and intricate, with a historical artistic feel. The color and typography suggest a connection to early 20th-century French artistic movements.
Guillaume Apollinaire, Raoul Dufy, Le Poete Assassine, 1962, bound volume with 36 lithographic illustrations, The John U. and Evelyn S. Nef Collection, 2011.60.84

Le Poete Assassine

Guillaume Apollinaire, Raoul Dufy · 1962 · bound volume with 36 lithographic illustrations ·  Accession ID  2011.60.84
This painting contains swirling lines and shapes in red, blue, and black against a soft pink background. In the bottom left corner is a bright orange surface, on which rests an upside-down violin. Next to the violin is a large white patch, surrounded by orange. Above this surface, red leaf-like shapes cover the pink background. On the right, in a vertical section down the center of the painting, is a pale blue section, with floral patterns in dark blue. To the right is a gray sketch of vase of flowers, surrounded by black borders, similar to a framed painting on a wall.
Raoul Dufy, Music and the Pink Violin, 1952, oil on canvas, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, 1985.64.14

Music and the Pink Violin

Raoul Dufy · 1952 · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  1985.64.14
The image displays abstract shapes, including large rectangular blocks of vibrant colors like pink, red, and blue. There are flowing lines and sketchy outlines of figures and boats, creating a busy scene by the water. The abstract elements form a tapestry resembling sails or flags, with one rectangle featuring a Union Jack design. The composition suggests movement and activity, like people participating in a leisurely event by the river.
Raoul Dufy, The Regattas at Henley, 1937, oil on canvas, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, 2014.18.61

The Regattas at Henley

Raoul Dufy · 1937 · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  2014.18.61
The artwork features a composition of vibrant and abstract shapes. Vertical orange lines are present alongside boat-like forms. Rectangular and triangular shapes are included. On the right, fluid, elongated shapes are visible. The background transitions from blue to purple hues.
Raoul Dufy, The Basin at Deauville, 1937, oil on linen, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection, 1970.17.32

The Basin at Deauville

Raoul Dufy · 1937 · oil on linen ·  Accession ID  1970.17.32
The artwork features an abstract composition with a blend of bold and sweeping lines. Large, colorful flags dominate the background, with geometric shapes. In the foreground, abstract representations of people and boats create a bustling scene, with figures and vessels sketched in dynamic, energetic strokes. The vibrant colors and dynamic lines capture the atmosphere of a rowing event.
Raoul Dufy, Regatta at Henley, 1937, oil on linen, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection, 1970.17.31

Regatta at Henley

Raoul Dufy · 1937 · oil on linen ·  Accession ID  1970.17.31
The image is a line drawing of a seated person with curly hair, closed eyes, and pursed lips. They are holding a large shell in their left hand while their right hand rests on the ground. The person is nude, with no visible clothing or jewelry. Ornate line clouds surround them, and there is a shell on the ground near their feet. The background is blank. A signature, "Raoul Dufy," is in the lower right corner.
Raoul Dufy, Amphitrite, 1930, etching in black on wove paper, The John U. and Evelyn S. Nef Collection, 2011.60.18

Amphitrite

Raoul Dufy · 1930 · etching in black on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2011.60.18
The image shows a woman reclining on her side with her left arm bent to support her head, looking at the viewer. She has dark, short hair, expressive eyes, a straight nose, and pink lips. She is dressed in a light pink garment and a pearl necklace. The background includes a surface with a blue and purple floral pattern and a colorful tapestry with figures, animals, and an elephant. The setting is indoors with a light blue background.
Raoul Dufy, Reclining Nude, 1930, oil on canvas, Chester Dale Collection, 1963.10.142

Reclining Nude

Raoul Dufy · 1930 · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  1963.10.142
The image shows an aerial view of a busy street lined with buildings, leading to a grand structure in the distance resembling a classical temple-like building with columns. The skyline is partially obscured by the central building, revealing a cloudy sky. Bold brushstrokes depict motion in the street below, with a monochromatic color palette of black ink on a cream background. Traffic, pedestrians, and building facades add to the urban scene.
Raoul Dufy, Rue Royal, probably 1930, lithograph, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Burton Tremaine, 1971.86.14

Rue Royal

Raoul Dufy · probably 1930 · lithograph ·  Accession ID  1971.86.14