French artist Raoul Dufy’s paintings personify joy, optimism and an insatiable zest for life. Attending Paris’ Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Dufy (1877 – 1953) was initially drawn to the spontaneity of Fauvism. He later concentrated on painting regattas, horse races, casinos and palm trees in a uniquely personal style, characterized by swift, stenographic brushstrokes on brilliant fields of color that evoked a sense of movement. Remarkably versatile, Dufy also created book illustrations, textiles, ceramics, tapestry designs, stage sets and murals. In his lifetime, he produced an astounding 2,000 paintings, 2,000 watercolors and almost 1,000 drawings.

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