Paris Plage 1910

Samuel Peploe made this painting, 'Paris Plage', probably in the early 20th century, with oil on canvas. What strikes me is how Peploe simplifies everything down to almost abstract shapes, capturing the essence of a beach scene with just a few strokes. Look at how he uses the paint – it's thick and juicy, applied in short, quick dashes. The texture is so present, you can almost feel the grit of the sand and the cool dampness of the sea. The colours, mostly muted blues and whites, create a sense of airy lightness. See how he's created figures with just a few blobs of black paint? It’s like they're melting into the scene, becoming one with the beach. That loose application gives the whole painting a feeling of spontaneity. You can see a similar approach to colour and form in the work of the Impressionists, especially someone like Boudin, who also painted similar beach scenes. But Peploe brings something different, a kind of ruggedness and a bold sense of simplification. It’s a reminder that art is never really finished, just abandoned at some point.