The Fauvists were a group of French painters, prominent from the Paris salon of 1905. Their paintings were characterized by their use of simplified forms, bright or violent colors, and complementary colors. The group included Henri Matisse, Maurice de Vlaminck, Andre Derain, and Kees van Dongen.
The term "fauves" means wild beasts, and was first used by the French art critic Louis Vauxcelles in a review that appeared on 17 October 1905.