Paysage provençal

Bright blocks of color shape a warm southern landscape, where deep greens, vivid oranges, and soft blues create a sense of sunlight spreading across the hills. The tall trees in the foreground bend slightly, their bold outlines framing a view that feels both structured and spontaneous. Derain uses sweeping strokes and simplified forms to let color carry the mood of the place.

Painted during his Fauvist years, the work shows Derain’s belief that landscapes could express emotion through pure chromatic intensity. Provence becomes a world of contrasts: cool shadows beside glowing fields, solid tree trunks against a restless horizon. The painting feels open and full of movement, inviting the viewer to feel the heat, the breeze, and the brightness of the south.