Maison d’André Derain

Hidden within Chambourcy lies a treasure, the Maison d’André Derain. This isn’t just another grand house. It’s a time capsule, a testament to the life and passions of a revolutionary artist. André Derain, a name synonymous with Fauvism, sought refuge and inspiration within these walls. Purchased in 1935, the Maison d’André Derain became his sanctuary after selling his other properties. He craved a space to consolidate his belongings, a space to create. He knocked down walls, creating a vast studio where his imagination could roam free. Although he maintained other workspaces in Paris, this house, formerly known as “La Roseraie,” held a special place in his heart. Derain wasn’t confined to the main house. He transformed a greenhouse into a light-filled studio for large-scale works and even converted an adjoining pavilion into a sculptor’s workshop, complete with a potter’s wheel and kiln. The Maison d’André Derain, however, wasn’t immune to the storms of history. During World War II, German soldiers requisitioned the house. They turned the upper floor into barracks, disrupting Derain’s carefully arranged studio. The ground floor became a makeshift garage, walls were broken to accommodate vehicles, and even 17th-century statues in the park were damaged. Derain, forced to share his home with the unwelcome occupants, eventually retreated to Paris, only returning after their departure in 1941. The house then underwent a transformation. The former sculptor’s pavilion became a home for Derain’s niece and her family. The main house was reconfigured to accommodate Derain, his wife, his son Bobby, and domestic staff. Two studios emerged: one on the ground floor extending into a veranda, overflowing with artwork, and another, recently reconstructed, on the first floor opening onto a large terrace. Derain also added a new building at the back of the park dedicated to his sculpting. Even the roof restoration became an opportunity for artistic expression, as he repurposed the salvaged iron, copper, zinc, and lead into sculptures. After Derain’s death in 1954, the house was bequeathed to his niece, eventually passing through her children before being sold in 1988. The new owners undertook significant renovations, carefully preserving the studio. In 2014, the town of Chambourcy acquired the Maison d’André Derain, embarking on a project to restore the studio and open it to the public. The house was reinforced, utilities updated, and the park revitalized. Today, the Maison d’André Derain stands as a tribute to Derain’s legacy. Here, within these walls, his spirit lives on, inviting us to glimpse into the world of a true artistic innovator.