Parliament at Night - London by André Derain

The stay of Derain André in London marks one of the most flamboyant heights of European Fauvism. It was during this trip that he executed this sumptuous oil on canvas entitled “Parliament at Night - London”, where pure color breaks free from traditional drawing. By reinventing the famous views of the English capital, the painter delivers a poetic and colorful vision that shakes up the codes of representation.

The imposing silhouette of the Houses of Parliament in London and its tower rises against an intense, almost unreal ultramarine blue background. This dark monument stretches horizontally under a tormented sky of blue, white, and pale green hues. In the foreground, the River Thames is treated in broad horizontal strokes of highly vivid complementary colors. The water’s surface sparkles with yellow, orange, and green reflections that evoke solar reverberation. Several dark transport vessels float on the water, structuring the composition and providing spatial markers in this chromatic explosion.

This painting bears witness to the painter’s technical genius in placing the separate stroke and organizing strong thermal contrasts. The bold use of pure color shows an unequaled craftsmanship in oil painting. This work stands out as a major creation of modernity through its power of expression.