Paris Plage 1910

Samuel Peploe made this painting of people at the beach with oil on canvas, probably outside. Look at those dashes of white, pink, and blue that make up the sand and the sea. You can almost feel the sun and the salty air. I bet Peploe was trying to capture a quick impression, like when you’re walking along the beach and you just want to soak it all in before it changes. The figures are like little blobs of black and white, kind of mysterious, like ghosts or shadows. The paint is thin and fluid, almost like watercolor, which gives the painting a sense of lightness and movement. It reminds me of some of Boudin’s beach scenes, or even Whistler’s, with that same airy feel. You can see how these artists are all in conversation with each other, trying to figure out how to capture a moment. Painting isn't just about showing what's there, but feeling it too.