Still Life with Pink and Red Roses in a Chinese Vase 1923

Samuel Peploe made this still life painting of pink and red roses in a Chinese vase at some point during his career. The exotic vase and vibrant colors signal the influence of Post-Impressionism on Scottish painting at the beginning of the twentieth century. The still life genre allowed artists like Peploe to explore the formal qualities of painting, such as color, shape, and composition. Peploe was part of a group of artists known as the Scottish Colourists, who were inspired by French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. They sought to capture the beauty and vibrancy of the world around them through bold colors and expressive brushwork. Here, the Chinese vase, a luxury imported good, speaks to Scotland's growing internationalism and commercialism. The art institutions of Scotland, such as the Royal Scottish Academy, played an important role in promoting and exhibiting the work of these artists. To fully understand Peploe's work, we can research the cultural and economic context in which it was made, and the institutions that shaped its reception.