The Tolbooth, Kirkcudbright 

Samuel Peploe made this oil painting, The Tolbooth, Kirkcudbright, sometime in the early twentieth century. Peploe was one of the Scottish Colourists, who embraced bright colors and painterly brushwork. This approach was inspired by French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, but it also reflected a desire to break away from the more conservative traditions of Scottish art. The Tolbooth itself was the old town hall and prison, representing civic authority. Peploe doesn't portray it as a symbol of power but rather as a part of the everyday environment. The loose brushstrokes and softened forms give the scene an informal, almost dreamlike quality. Peploe and his contemporaries were active in a period of significant social and political change, and their art often reflected a desire for greater openness and experimentation. By studying the cultural institutions and artistic movements of the time, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the context in which Peploe's work was created.