Raoul Dufy, painter, printmaker, illustrator, muralist, ceramist, and stage, textile, and tapestry designer, was born June 3, 1877 in the French port city of Le Havre in Upper Normandy. At age 18, he entered La Havre's Ecole d'Art where he was a student of Charles Lhuillier.

In 1900, after completing his required military service, Dufy was awarded a scholarship to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. His first exhibition followed in 1901 with his inclusion in the Exhibition of French Artists. Dufy was introduced to Berthe Weill in 1902 and she took him on as a gallery artist. In 1903, Dufy's work was hung in the Salon des Independants and early in his career the artist, Maurice Denis, purchased one of his painting.

Dufy explored Fauvism, using boldly brilliant colors, after viewing Matisse’s Luxe, Calme et Volupte but he soon found his personal, joyful style and many of his paintings depict the port of La Havre or scenes along the English Channel.

Dufy was also influential in the fashion world as he created innovative textile designs for the Paul Poiret fashion house. His last studio was in Forcalquier, France and he died in the ville on March 23, 1953