Boats at Collioure 1905

André Derain made Boats at Collioure with paint – probably oil – and brushes, and a strong dose of looking. The color palette is so bold, a full blast of blues and yellows, that it feels like Derain is inviting us into a world where color is the main character. Looking closely, you can see how the paint is dabbed on in these little dots, a technique that makes the whole scene kind of vibrate. It’s like he's not just painting what he sees but also how he feels when he sees it. Those marks are like feelings, laid bare! Check out the way he uses the yellow for the sand and boats, and then throws in these punches of blue, it’s almost aggressive! You get the sense Derain is really pushing the limits, testing what paint can do. Derain reminds me of someone like Matisse; he’s exploring how art can be less about representation and more about pure expression. I find that so liberating.