Rating and value of paintings by André Derain

If you own a work by the artist André Derain or based on his work and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will guide you. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market. Thereafter, if you wish to sell your work, we will direct you to the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price. 

Rating and value of the artist

On the art market, works by André Derain are fairly common. Associated with the Fauvist group, works from this movement are the most sought-after by 20th-century collectors, especially those depicting Provence, with auctions that can exceed the million euro mark. Equally prized, his works that are not categorized as Fauvist can fetch tens of thousands of euros at auction.  Works by André Derain sell for between €10 and €17,373,900 on the art market, a substantial range but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to these works. In 2018, his oil on canvas Bateaux à Collioure sold for €10,721,300, while it was estimated at €8,474,180 to €11,285,580 by Sotheby's.

Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious

The artist's style and technique

Derain's works are characterized by synthetic, pared-down compositions (i.e., the horizon line is drawn at the height of the painting), a sacrifice of detail and a simplification of light. 

The intense light of southern France has the effect of evacuating the perception of detail. The link between color and light is established through the flat color or the fragmented brushstroke, which spaces out to leave the canvas in reserve. This presence of reserve in the painting is intended to evoke light and its dazzling effect on the viewer in a sparing manner. It is an essential element of the Fauvist group.

André Derain, major figure of Fauvism

André Derain (1880-1954) was born into a well-to-do family and demonstrated his genius for painting as early as high school. In

1898, Derain began his studies at the Camillo Academy run by symbolist painter Eugène Carrière. At

the same time, the young artist met Henri Matisse and the painter Maurice de Vlaminck, who would remain his friend throughout his career. It was in Collioure, in the company of Matisse, that he revolutionized the aesthetics of the turn of the century. After a brief stint at the Académie Julian, Derain was quickly propelled onto the art scene by his friends, and began exhibiting at the Salon d'Automne in 1905.

The Salon d'Automne caused a scandal in 1905. In the middle of Room VII, which featured works by those who would later be called "the Fauves", were traditional busts by Albert Marquet. Louis de Vauxcelles wrote: "The candor of these busts surprises amidst the orgy of pure tones: it's Donatello among the Fauves". Derain himself wrote of his work to Matisse: " I let myself go to color by color ". His canvases are characterized by the use of vivid nuances, propelled onto the support by broad brushstrokes that hint at movement. Derain's compositions, along with those of the other Fauvists, were to embody the beginning of the twentieth-century artistic revolution, through scandal and novelty.

Gradually, Derain's style evolved. It was also at this time that Derain produced his first illustrations. In the 1920s, Derain's work became more realistic and classical, in reference to the Old Masters. There is talk of a "return to order" that echoes the neo-classical ideal. Picasso and Braque took the same path temporarily.

After the First World War, André Derain created numerous ballet and theater sets, notably for Serge de Diaghilev, the founder of the Ballets Russes. Far from neglecting the beginnings of his art, the artist returned to Fauvist painting in the 1940s. André Derain died following a car accident in 1954, leaving behind a significant artistic legacy.

Derain's imprint on his period 

Derain made a lasting mark on his period, notably through the scandal of Room VII, which introduced the pictorial and artistic upheavals that took place in the 20th century. Today, many of his works are exhibited in museums in France and around the world, but collectors play the greatest role in preserving his work.

The artist's signature

Not all André Derain's works are signed. Works are usually stamped with a studio stamp reading " Atelier Derain "

Although there are variations, here is a first example of his signature :

Expertise your property

If you happen to own a work by André Derain, request a free appraisal without further ado using the form on our website. A member of our team will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the value of your work, as well as any relevant information about it. If you're thinking of selling your work, our specialists will also be on hand to help you find alternatives for selling it at the best possible price.