Towards the end of
the 1960s, Piper’s artistic output shifted away from sombre documentations of
the environment and instead became more experimental and carefree in
mark-making as a celebration of place. Bright layers of colour and line are
applied with vigour, capturing the energy and emotion that the artist felt
while experiencing these specific locations. Piper comments on this, stating
'The titles are the names of places, meaning that there was an involvement
there at a special time: an experience affected by the weather, the season and
the country but above all concerned with the exact location and its spirit for
me...the emotion generated by [the involvement] at one moment in a special
place.’ (J. Piper quoted in Exhibition catalogue, European Topography 1967-69,
Oil paintings and gouaches, London, Marlborough Fine Art, 1969).