Waterloo Bridge

Sunshine explodes across the sky in André Derain's 1906 painting of Waterloo Bridge, turning a London morning into a riot of pink, yellow, green, and blue. The Thames shimmers with dabs of color that seem to dance on the water, while boats glide quietly beneath the long span of the bridge. Buildings fade softly into the distance, but Derain wasn't after an accurate portrait of the city. He chased a feeling instead, splashing the canvas with colors no one would ever really see there.

Derain belonged to a group of artists known as the Fauves, a French word meaning "wild beasts." The nickname was meant as an insult from critics who found their bold, clashing colors too shocking, but the name stuck and the artists wore it proudly. Interestingly, Derain came to London at the urging of his art dealer, who wanted him to paint scenes that could compete with Claude Monet's famous foggy views of the Thames. Rather than copy Monet's dreamy haze, Derain chose warmth and light, building his whole picture from tiny strokes of pure, glowing color. The London he gives us feels bright, playful, and full of life.