Palm Trees At Martigues (Homage To Gauguin) 1910

Raoul Dufy made Palm Trees at Martigues (Homage to Gauguin) with paint, building up the image like a puzzle. It’s not just about what you see; it’s about how you see it. The surface is full of these choppy marks, a little bit like Cezanne maybe. Look at how Dufy put down these strokes – almost like he’s weaving together the leaves and branches. They are these little hatch marks, not blended, raw and fresh. Check out that tree trunk to the right – a collection of brick reds that give it weight but at the same time, it is so obviously paint. Dufy’s homage to Gauguin isn't a carbon copy; it’s a conversation. This reminds me of Matisse; the colour and the sheer joy in painting. Art isn’t about answers; it’s about asking questions, and leaving space for the unexpected.