The clearing, or the luncheon on the grass 1938

Andre Derain gave us this curious picnic around the start of the 20th Century. The figures are rendered in these glowing, earthy tones, and their forms are simplified, almost monumental. The paint has a kind of matte, chalky quality, making the surface feel very present, very physical. I'm drawn to the way the light catches on the folds of fabric near the seated figure, creating these little stabs of brightness amidst the darker hues. It's a lovely demonstration of how a small detail can add so much depth. The flattened perspective and solid forms makes me think about Cezanne, but there's also something very modern and forward-looking about Derain's approach, and his Fauvist contemporaries. The painting seems to suggest that art is an ongoing, messy, conversation, and no one has the last word.