Lady in a White Dress 1906

Samuel Peploe made 'Lady in a White Dress' with oil paint, using a really playful, intuitive approach. Look at how he's put down these broad strokes, like he’s unafraid to just let the paint do its thing. The materiality of this piece is so present, right? The paint isn't trying to hide or disappear. It’s thick, luscious, and the way he layers the whites and greys gives it this fantastic, almost sculptural quality. There’s a spot on the dress where the brushstrokes are so clear, you can almost feel the movement of his hand, like you're in the studio with him. Peploe's work reminds me a bit of Manet, especially his portraits, but with a Scottish twist, maybe? There’s a similar interest in light and form, but Peploe brings a rawness, an immediacy that’s all his own. Ultimately, paintings are all about what they evoke rather than what they depict.