Charing Cross Bridge 1906

André Derain made this painting of the Charing Cross Bridge at some point, with oil on canvas. It's all about colour here – look at the pinks, blues, and yellows blazing away! I imagine Derain, standing there, really present, mixing up these bright hues, maybe thinking about what Van Gogh or Matisse might do. There’s this real bravery in the colour choices, not trying to copy reality but diving headfirst into feeling. The paint isn't too thick, but you can see each brushstroke, like he’s building the image up, bit by bit. Check out how he’s used these red marks on the tree in the foreground, kind of scribbly but so full of energy. Derain was part of the Fauves, those “wild beasts” of early modern art. I think they were all in conversation with one another, pushing the limits. For me, this piece isn’t about a bridge; it's about the sheer joy and guts of painting! It is about seeing the world anew.