Born in Le Havre, France, Raoul Dufy studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He was initially influenced by Impressionism before adopting the bold colors and expressive brushwork characteristic of the Fauvist movement, which brought him early critical attention.

Dufy developed a signature aesthetic defined by fluid, calligraphic lines and bright, translucent washes of color. His practice was remarkably multidisciplinary, encompassing printmaking, book illustration, and large-scale scenic design, alongside his prolific output of paintings featuring regattas, horse races, and leisure scenes.

His legacy is marked by his successful integration of fine art with decorative arts, most notably through his long-standing collaboration with the fashion designer Paul Poiret and his extensive work in textile design. His public commissions, including the monumental mural La Fée Électricité, remain significant examples of his ability to adapt his decorative sensibility to architectural scales.