Les Fruits D'Afrique (The Fruits of Africa)

Dufy was a painter associated in the early part of his career with the Fauves ("wild beasts"), known for their bold colors and sweeping brushstrokes. In 1909 he met the couturier Paul Poiret, who encouraged his textile work. Dufy established a textile production workshop, which Poiret supported financially, but it closed when Dufy was hired in 1912 to design textiles for the Lyons firm of Bianchini-Férier. Dufy and Poiret remained friends and collaborated throughout their relationship. For the most part, Dufy's textiles reflect either his brightly colored paintings or his fondness for woodcuts, as seen here.