Dazzling Dufy: Invitation to a luminous feast with Raoul Dufy

Raoul Dufy (1877-1953) was a key player in early twentieth century avant garde art, design and literary/theatrical circles in Paris. As a widely travelled polymath, Dufy's charismatic personality, wit and curiosity about the world was infectious. His imagination and technical virtuosity - across a range of media including painting and lithography, posters, book illustration, theatrical set design, textiles and fashion, ceramics and large murals - cut across all conventional boundaries. Whether a small intricate woodcut illustrating a love poem, or the truly gigantic 1937 world fair murals depicting the role of electricity in the modern age, the effect is mesmerising.
Our Lecturer: Mary Alexander
Mary trained as an art historian and graduated with a B.A. Hons in History and History of Art, and an M.A. in History of Art with Distinction from University College London.
Lecturing and tutoring experience in the history of art has included the Open University, Manchester University (extra mural department), Leeds University, Christie's Education in London, and various arts, heritage and antiquarian societies, including National Trust Associations and The Arts Society (previously known as NADFAS).
Since moving to Norfolk in 2000, Mary is now a freelance lecturer and travels widely in the UK, Europe and further afield, including three successful Arts Society lecture tours in Australia and New Zealand.
She is actively involved with local conservation issues, previously with the Holt Society for which she wrote two publications Good Design is Good Business and First Impressions, and currently with the recently formed Trowse History Society in Norwich. Mary was former President of Arts Society Glaven Valley in north Norfolk until 2022.
Image: Raoul Dufy, ‘Still Life 1928’ (image Wikipedia Commons)