Raoul DUFY

Do you own any Raoul Dufy’s artwork? Are you curious to know what they are worth? Our Experts can provide a free appraisal to give you an estimate of the market price, then help you to ensure the best possible price should you decide to sell.

Value, estimation and price of the artist Raoul Dufy

Price of a drawing: 2,000 – 120,000 €.

Price of a painting: 12,800 – 550,000 €.

Price of a print: 80-1500 €.

Estimation of a ceramic: 1 400 – 72,000 €

If you would like to have a Dufy work appraised, our experts will take care of everything.

Raoul Dufy’s training

Raoul Dufy was a French artist born in Le Havre on 3 June 1877 and died in Forcalquier on 23 March 1953.

At the age of 16, he studied at the Municipal School of Fine Arts in Le Havre and took evening classes with the painter Charles Lhuillier. He meets Othon Friesz with whom he will share a studio in Montmartre.

In 1900, he was in Paris and entered the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts where he met his friend Friesz.

He participated for the first time in the Salon des artistes français in 1901. At the Salon des Indépendants in 1903, Maurice Denis bought a painting from him.

The multiple influences of Raoul Dufy

Influenced by the work of Eugène Boudin, Raoul Dufy painted extensively on the motif and represented the surroundings of Le Havre, particularly its beaches, as illustrated by La plage de Sainte-Adresse, which he painted in 1904 and where one can admire a lively and vigorous touch. In the company of Albert Marquet, the artist also painted at Fécamp.

Then Dufy turned to fauvism after discovering the work of Matisse or Signac and depicted the streets of his native town with thick black lines that emphasise the architecture.

At the Salon d’Automne held in 1907, Raoul Dufy was struck by Cézanne’s painting. In order to better understand the man he admired, he left in the company of Georges Braque for l’Estaque, a motif often represented by Cézanne. His canvases are of a schematic geometry and the artist works on depth and volume. However, his work remains legible and uses bright colours.

Raoul Dufy, colour and line

Dufy’s painting took a new direction from 1913 onwards, when he began to realise the importance of colour, which was not necessarily confined to the drawing of the object represented, but went beyond it. He pushed the dissociation between colour and drawing very far, and the object sometimes adopted several juxtaposed colours.

He uses other mediums such as gouache and watercolour as well as other techniques that allow him to push the work on colour further. On a wet medium, his painting spreads out in puddles. Once dry, he depicts the contours of his objects with a fine line. This work is only possible thanks to the great experience he has in drawing.

Indeed, drawing plays an important part in his work and the subjects he represents are varied. He creates bouquets, nudes, landscapes, musical instruments or portraits. If the work may seem overloaded at first glance, it is in fact very simple, Dufy going straight to the point. Too much detail could suffocate what he is trying to represent, he says himself.

Recognising Raoul Dufy’s signature

Like many artists, Raoul Dufy did not sign all of his works. However, you will find below an example of the signatures to give you an idea. Variations of these signatures do exist, do not hesitate to contact one of our experts to formally authenticate a signature.

Appraising and selling a Dufy’s artwork

If you own a Raoul Dufy’s artwork, use our online form for a free appraisal.

You will then be contacted by a member of our team of experts and auctioneers to give you an independent opinion of the market price. Should you wish to sell your painting or any other artwork, our specialists will also advise you on the various options available for selling at the best price.