Still Life with Roses and Mirror 

'Still Life with Roses and Mirror' was painted by Samuel Peploe using oil paints on canvas. Peploe's gestural brushstrokes create a thick impasto surface, giving the work a tangible presence. The materiality of the paint itself becomes a focal point, almost as much as the roses. Notice how the artist has created a range of colors, without actually mixing them on a palette. It’s a labor-intensive technique, requiring a careful laying down of strokes of contrasting colors. As a Scottish Colourist, Peploe was interested in exploring the interplay of light and color, and that is made evident in the visible brushwork. The subject matter - roses in a vase - is secondary to the artist's overall investigation of color and texture. By emphasizing the material qualities of the paint and the act of painting, Peploe elevates what might otherwise be a traditional still life into a modern exploration of perception and process. This piece challenges the boundaries between representation and abstraction, inviting viewers to appreciate the physical qualities of the medium alongside the depicted subject matter.