The Seaside

'The Seaside' is a celebration of people enjoying a day at the beach. Despite being regarded as somewhat of a recluse, William Roberts spent most of his career painting and drawing ordinary people going about their life at home, work and play. He was particularly drawn to individuals at leisure, and painted people sunbathing, playing musical instruments, skipping, on see-saws and playing snooker. In works like 'The Seaside' the angular forms of his early works have given way to more rounded almost sculptural figures. The composition is tightly packed with people, and their limbs create a rhythm and sense of movement across the painting.