On the beach at Newlyn

From the 1880's onwards Newlyn had been an artistic hub, but never had it been so exuberantly described as in Ernest Procter's On the Beach at Newlyn. The picture captures the joy of summer, as families relax on the sand and children busy themselves at the water's edge. It was painted in 1919 after Procter's return from four years service with the Red Cross during the First World War and is a true celebration of peace, hope and the optimism of youth. Its strong sense of design and saturated palette predict the bold style of posters that advertised British seaside resorts in the 1920's and 30's.