The Revolt 1902 - 1914
From this period, Rouault gives a lot of importance to his materials. He mixes aquarelle with gouache and pastel on paper which he then sticks on canvas. In this way he obtains a unique material and a subtle harmony of colours. Towards 1910, he starts to use oil paint which offers him a richer choice of colours. Oil will progressively supplant his mixed technique. Rouault explores different techniques in order to uncover those which best suit his temperament. He intensively tries out the art of ceramic followed by that of printing. These two activities give him a craftsman-like relationship with his work through the material, and give, after years of research, an essential contribution to his painting.

The years 1913-14 are the beginning of a new stage in his evolution. This is expressed in the shifting of his themes and the growing over-simplification of form. By force of experimentation and persistent work, Rouault gradually finds and perfects his means of expression. His painting is a scholarly mixture of the hand, the heart and the soul. The First World War brings new preoccupations which will mature the painter and his painting.

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