The Blue Dress

Kees van Dongen (1877 - 1968), 1911

oil on canvas, 146.2 cm x 114.4 cm
Credits: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (purchased with support from the BankGiro Loterij)
c/o Pictoright Amsterdam 2019

The Dutch painter Kees van Dongen married Augusta (Guus) Preitinger in 1901 and painted this almost life-sized painting of her the following year. She gazes provocatively through her eyelashes, her hand placed nonchalantly on her hip.

Although this is a portrait of Van Dongen’s wife, it is her bright blue dress that steals the show. It contrasts strongly with Guus’s pale complexion and the red background, causing it to leap out of the canvas. Van Dongen painted the shadows on his wife’s arms and neck in bright green.

Working with areas of solid colour and bold contrasts is a typical feature of this artist’s work. The painting was directly inspired by Van Gogh’s bright colours and expressive brushwork.