André Derain (1880-1954) is a less known French artist who worked in many art movements. With his innovative use of vivid unnatural colors, this artist was the co-founder of Fauvism. As you may know, this movement was named after an insult. Critics said works like this seemed to have been painted by fauves, wild beasts. Henri Matisse was also a founder.

André Derain painted London in a random and radical way. He gave fresh eyes to the familiar using large dots of color in the way of pointillism and applying divisionism in delineated colors. His treatment of water here is varied and curious in red-orange, tints of green and yellow and blue, in textures from smooth to segmented. At first glance you may not see it as water. The bridge is helpful!

As we seek now to find new views of the familiar, may we remember this artist and his brilliant imagination, his willingness to look again and to take risks in painting what he saw. He pushes all of us to re-examine the world around us; to challenge our perceptions; and to take risks for our conclusions. He shows us amazing complexity and wide ranging possibilities in a glimpse of London. May we find the same now in every glimpse of our own places and times. May Charing Cross Bridge be a call to faith and a call to actions of creativity, love and beauty. May it be so. Amen.

In gratitude, faith and hope,

Sandy Prouty
Minister of Children and Families
Montview Church