Landscape, Provence 1925

Andre Derain painted ‘Landscape, Provence’ with oils on canvas, though the date of its creation is uncertain. The bold handling of paint and clear light remind me of Cezanne’s work in Aix. I love how the surface has been built up with layers of brushstrokes – you can almost feel the warmth of the sun radiating from that ochre earth. Look how Derain varies the thickness of his paint, from the almost translucent washes in the sky to the denser, more opaque strokes in the trees. The colors are so earthy and vibrant, like he’s trying to capture the very essence of Provence. Notice the way Derain uses these abrupt divisions to divide the space into clear and distinct blocks. The painting becomes almost like an experiment in how colour can be used to create depth and perspective. It calls to mind some of the earlier landscapes by someone like Matisse, where the scene is treated like a formal exercise as much as a depiction of a real place. Ultimately, the painting is alive with possibility.