Ile de Bréhat 1911

Samuel Peploe, a leading figure of the Scottish Colourists, rendered this Impressionistic view of Ile de Bréhat during a period when the world was rapidly industrializing, and artists yearned for scenes of unspoiled, natural beauty.   This painting invites us into a world far removed from the urban centers of the early 20th century, yet it's essential to remember who had access to these idyllic escapes. The ability to travel and capture such scenes was often a privilege of class, and the art world itself was dominated by male perspectives. Although the focus is on the landscape, we might consider the absence of the island's inhabitants, and question whose stories are left untold. Peploe’s painting prompts us to consider the complex relationship between leisure, labor, and representation, and to reflect on whose visions of beauty are historically valued.