The Sun Bathers c. 1930

Robert Charles Peter created 'The Sun Bathers,' a striking print, that captures a scene of leisure and repose. The composition is meticulously arranged, featuring three figures on what appears to be a yacht deck, with a large parasol dominating the center. The figures, rendered in a monochrome palette, display a smooth, almost sculptural quality, enhanced by the stark contrast between light and shadow. Peter's deliberate use of light and shadow not only defines the forms but also creates a sense of depth and volume, drawing our eye across the scene. The forms of the figures, the parasol, and the boat's rigging are simplified, verging on geometric abstraction. The soft gradations of tone, achieved through printmaking, lend a tactile quality to the work, inviting a closer inspection of the materiality and the printmaking process. The composition emphasizes a play between organic and geometric forms, which functions as an invitation to question fixed meanings and discover the many possibilities in the scene.