The key figure of Fauvism was Henri Matisse, who in 1899 began experimenting with Neo-Impressionism, which greatly influenced Fauvism.

Another important influence was Van Gogh, who used colour in a highly emotional way.

Other members of the Fauves at the 1905 exhibition included André Derain and Georges Rouault. 

They were joined the following year by Raoul Dufy and in 1907 by Georges Braque.

From 1907, however, the group identity broke up, as the artists developed in different ways.

Matisse continued to be concerned with the emotional use of colour, but Braque had a radical change of direction after meeting Picasso in 1907, going on to develop Cubism with him.