Kees van Dongen was a Dutch-French painter who was one of the leading Fauves. Fauvism is the style of les Fauves (French for “the wild beasts”), a group of early 20th-century modern artists whose works emphasized painterly qualities and strong color over the representational or realistic values retained by Impressionism.

Van Dongen’s early work was influenced by the Hague School and symbolism and it evolved gradually into a rough pointillist style. From 1905 onwards – when he took part in the controversial 1905 Salon d’Automne exhibition – his style became more and more radical in its use of form and color. The paintings he made in the period of 1905–1910 are considered by some to be his most important works. The themes of his work from that period are predominantly centered on the nightlife; he paints dancers, singers, masquerades and theatre. Van Dongen gained a reputation for his sensuous – at times garish – portraits of especially women.