Maurice de Vlaminck

Derain was a close friend from their early days as artists; they met on a train and shared a studio (not paying the rent, and burning the chairs to keep warm). Matisse was introduced by Derain at an influential van Gogh exhibition, and encouraged the two to show their work at the Salon d’Automne, where the label ‘fauves’ first appeared. Vlaminck was friends with all the major fauves, as well as drinking with Picasso, Jacob, and the other Bateau Lavoir denizens. He was choosy about his friends, but was close to Modigliani, Aymé and Carco. Mac Orlan celebrated his stained-glass-blue eyes.