Cyclamen 

Samuel Peploe created this still life of a cyclamen plant with oil on canvas. Peploe was a Scottish Colourist, a group of painters who took inspiration from French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. Scottish Colourists sought to capture the fleeting effects of light and color in their paintings, often depicting domestic scenes, landscapes, and still lifes. Here, Peploe uses loose brushstrokes and bold colors to depict a cyclamen plant in a pot. The painting is characterized by its vibrant colors and simplified forms. The pinks and greens of the plant contrast with the muted tones of the background, creating a sense of depth and texture. Paintings such as this were exhibited in commercial galleries where an emerging middle class could express their taste and signal their social position through purchases. Examining exhibition catalogues and reviews from the period can tell us much about the cultural norms against which these Scottish Colourists defined themselves. Art is never created in a vacuum, and it is only by understanding the social and institutional context in which it was made that we can truly appreciate its meaning and significance.