Return of Ulysses 1938

Andre Derain made "The Return of Ulysses" with oil paint and canvas sometime in the early 20th century. It’s wild to think about Derain’s process here, he’s really pushing at the boundaries of representation and abstraction. There’s such a rich materiality to the piece! Look at the texture, the way Derain layers and blends the colors. The paint is thick and opaque, giving the surface a tactile quality. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the canvas, each brushstroke building up the image. Notice that figure at the heart of the painting. Their pose has this tension, like a coiled spring about to release. It's so dynamic and full of energy. Derain reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker, they both share that interest in finding new ways to translate emotions and ideas into form. What I love about "The Return of Ulysses" is how it embraces ambiguity. It invites us to bring our own experiences and interpretations to the artwork.