Etaples 1902

Rupert Bunny’s painting of Etaples is all about atmosphere, achieved through a limited palette of earthy tones. The brushwork here is loose, gestural, the paint applied in visible strokes that capture the feeling of a misty, overcast day. There’s a real sense of process in this painting, a feeling of the artist working quickly to capture a fleeting moment. Look closely at the way the buildings are rendered: simple blocks of white and grey, outlined with darker hues to suggest form and shadow. The cows in the foreground feel similarly gestural. The way the sky seems to press down on the scene reminds me of some of James McNeill Whistler’s tonalist works, especially his nocturnes. Ultimately, this painting embraces ambiguity, offering a glimpse of a place rather than a detailed representation. It's a reminder that art can be about capturing a feeling, an impression, rather than just a picture.