Souvenir 1905

Samuel Peploe painted this still life, Souvenir, with oil on canvas, and what strikes me first is how he’s used a limited palette to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. It’s all about how the paint is applied, and here you can see the process. Look at the impasto on the books. It's thick and luscious, not quite disguising the shapes beneath. The silvery jug is created with quick, confident brushstrokes, capturing the highlights and reflections. There's something really satisfying about the way Peploe embraces the physicality of his medium, letting the texture and color do the talking. The open book with its pages cascading down—that’s my favorite part, the way the off-white paint almost drips off the edge, implying movement. It reminds me a little of Morandi, that same quiet focus on everyday objects, elevating them through subtle variations of tone and texture. Ultimately, it’s up to us to find our own meaning in it.