The artwork titled “Cornish Church,” created by Matthew Smith in 1920, belongs to the Fauvism art movement and is categorized as a cityscape. This piece embodies the vibrant and emotive qualities typical of the Fauvism style, marked by its bold use of color and a departure from realistic representation.
In the artwork, the viewer is presented with a depiction of a church situated within a town. The composition is dominated by intense colors, including vivid reds, blues, and greens. The church building, with its striking blue roof, stands in the foreground against a dark, almost black, backdrop. Adjacent structures, rendered in deep reds and purples, frame the central subject. A path, painted in a bright, fiery red, guides the eye through the green expanse of the churchyard, adding depth and direction to the scene. The architectural elements of the church, particularly its windows and tower, are simplified, emphasizing the use of bold, unmodulated color over intricate detail. This approach highlights the Fauvist intent to prioritize emotional expression through color and form.
