Brigitte Bardot

Cornelis Theodorus Maria “Kees” van Dongen (born January 26, 1877, Delfshaven, Rotterdam – died May 28, 1968, Monaco) was a Dutch-born, French-naturalized painter and a leading figure of Fauvism, renowned for his bold colors, sensual portraits, and depictions of Parisian high society.

After training at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Rotterdam, van Dongen moved to Paris in 1897, immersing himself in the avant-garde scene and contributing satirical illustrations to L’Assiette au Beurre. His participation in the 1905 Salon d’Automne, where his strikingly colored works were exhibited in the famous “cage aux fauves”, established him as a central Fauvist painter.

In his early career, van Dongen portrayed the nightlife of Montmartre—cabarets, dancers, and femmes fatales—through a provocative and color-charged visual language. From 1910 onwards, travels to Spain and North Africa enriched his palette and intensified the chromatic sophistication of his works.

After World War I, van Dongen became a sought-after portraitist among Parisian elites and international celebrities, painting figures such as Brigitte Bardot, Maurice Chevalier, and the Aga Khan, blending glamour with an expressive, daring brushstroke.

Awarded the Légion d’Honneur in 1926 and naturalized as a French citizen in 1929, van Dongen remained active until his death in Monte Carlo in 1968. Today, his paintings are held in major museums and private collections worldwide, affirming his influence on European modern art.