André DerainThe Pool of London 1906

This view of the Thames from London Bridge is one of four works painted by Derain, showing the same part of the river. At this time he was a leading member of the Fauve group of painters in Paris. He had been sent to London by his dealer, Vollard. The idea was to update, in Fauve style, the popular Thames views painted by Claude Monet a few years earlier. Strongly-coloured and freely-handled, this painting is characteristic of Fauvism in creating vivid effects through bold contrasts of colour.