Let’s recall that extremely simple yet equally radical idea echoing in Paris at the end of the 19th century: Painting, in the final analysis, is nothing more than paint applied onto a canvas.
Indeed, André Derain (1880–1954) was among the first figures to push this liberating perception to its limit. Shattering traditional molds during the mischievous, rule-breaking early days of Fauvism, Derain sparked a flame for the avant-garde movements of subsequent decades. Yet, for the Paris-born painter and sculptor, the matter was not limited to mere rebellion. As Cubists fragmented form and pushed boundaries, Derain turned his face back to the essence of painting and tradition. His aim was not to preserve the past as it was, but to transform it through the language of the modern era.
Opening its doors at Galerie Michael Werner on the occasion of Berlin Art Week, the exhibition “Modell für Malerei” focuses precisely on this transformative power of Derain. On view between September 11 and November 7, 2026, the selection features the artist’s landscapes, nude figures, still lifes, and portraits dating to the 1940s. Canvases such as Diane aux baines, Assiette de fruits, or Baigneuses dans un paysage reveal the unique balance Derain established between classicism and modernism.
Accompanied by a special catalog featuring texts penned by Mėta Valiušaitytė, Danièle Cohn, and Alberto Giacometti, gazing upon the small-scale yet intense canvases from Derain’s brush allows us to grasp how the French painting tradition was reshaped.
Poised to leave a mark on the Berlin art season with its inauguration on the evening of Thursday, September 10, this special gathering creates a unique realm of discovery for those who wish to stand before the canvases and trace how paint reaches its own freedom.
