Kees Van Dongen

Kees Van Donegn was a dutch painter born in 1877 near Rotterdam. When he turned sixteen Van Dongen began studying art the Rotterdam Academy for Fine Arts. He eventually moved to Paris where he got married in 1901 but was later divorced in 1921. He was a socially butterfly of the city, he threw extravagant parties and to which all the local celebrities attended and lived a lavish Bohemian lifestyle. As part of the Fauves, of the "Wild beasts" he is known for his expressive use of color and brushstrokes. Van Dongen also participated in the German expressionist group Die Burcke, or "The Bridge", with Eric Heckel, Ernst Ludwig and others. He eventually died in 1968 at the age of 91, after a long and successful career.