On the Brittany Coast 

Samuel Peploe painted “On the Brittany Coast” with oil on canvas using brushes. The thick brushstrokes of paint create a palpable texture on the canvas, capturing a fleeting moment on the coast of France. Peploe, a Scottish Colourist, used a technique informed by Impressionism, where colour is used to convey the feeling of light, and the qualities of the scene, rather than as a direct representation. The broad strokes of colour show both the skill of the artist, as well as an embrace of modern industrialization, where materials like oil paint are readily manufactured. This artwork is not just a landscape, it’s also a product of its time. The mass production of materials, and the rise of leisure time for the middle classes, allowed artists to create these scenes of everyday life, inviting us to consider the ways in which society and industry intertwine with art. By embracing both material and context, we gain a fuller understanding of Peploe's work.