La Fée Électricité (Study) - Raoul Dufy

A preparatory study for Raoul Dufy's monumental mural, La Fée Électricité, featuring his signature fluid lines and expressive colour washes.

This work is a preparatory study for Raoul Dufy's monumental mural, La Fée Électricité, commissioned for the 1937 International Exposition in Paris. The original mural, which spans a vast area at the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, celebrates the history and impact of electricity on modern society. In this study, Dufy employs his characteristic shorthand style, using fluid, calligraphic lines to define form while allowing washes of colour to exist independently of the drawn outlines.

The composition captures the industrial scale of a power station, with grid-like structures representing the machinery and architecture of the era. Above these mechanical elements, Dufy introduces mythological figures and swirling clouds, blending the scientific progress of the twentieth century with classical allegory. The palette is dominated by atmospheric purples, pinks, and blues, which create a sense of ethereal energy rather than literal representation.

Dufy's approach here demonstrates his ability to synthesise complex subjects into a decorative, rhythmic visual language. The figures are rendered with minimal detail, yet they retain a sense of movement and presence. By separating the drawing from the colour, the artist achieves a lightness of touch that belies the technical complexity of the subject matter. This piece offers a glimpse into the creative process behind one of the largest paintings of the twentieth century, showing how Dufy mapped out the interplay between human history and technological advancement. The work remains a clear example of his unique contribution to modern art, where the joy of colour and the spontaneity of the line take precedence over traditional perspective or rigid realism.