Simon Roberts – We English

‘We English’ is a body of large format photographs documenting a wide range of scenes from across England and was the result of several years work concluding in a book. The book will be analysed by myself in specific detail but I wish to display some images of note here.

In the forward to the book by the same title, Stephen Daniels describes Roberts’ photographs as ‘an engaging depiction which records a different kind of connection with the landscape’. Roberts’ exploration is rooted in a deep appreciation of landscape paintings from a wide range of artists which form the fabric of British art history. His admiration also comes from the continent with several Dutch artists amongst the visual inspiration.

A specific instance of this is shown below where Roberts’ thoughts shifted to ‘The Derby Day’ by William Powell Frith.

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Across many of Roberts’ images created for We English we see a clear connection between the landscape and those using it. In the comments by Roberts in the book for the series he speaks of this importance.

Our history and its associations are vital to our relationship with the landscapes around us

Simon Roberts, We English

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My particular preference and attention is drawn to many of Roberts’ images created with the backdrop of industry making its mark upon the landscape. The enjoyment of the English countryside and the more extensive documenting of it by painters can be traced to the mid 18th Century. The catalyst being the starting of labour freedoms granted to the workforce enabling them leisure time to enjoy the land. As modern day leisure has expanded in recent decades that use of the land has evolved towards a hybrid form of enjoyment of the English countryside.

In a number of the photographs, scenes of modern-day leisure take place on what were once industrial sites. For instance, the flooding of gravel excavation pits a few years ago create the Cotswold Water Park, which now boasts the largest inland beach in England. Much of the gravel, which had been extracted for over 60 years, was used for building projects in the region.

Simon Roberts, plate 19, We English

Below are a selection of images which have drawn most attention from myself in terms of the displaying of the impact of industry on the landscapes of England. These impacts are somewhat more tame than the previously examined works of Ed Burtynsky and his photographic studies of Oil and Quarries. They are nonetheless still stark contrasts and stand at odds with each other. They also demonstrate examples of our industrial past being lived with and around. Much of this infrastructure is very modern in appearance and becomes so much of our daily experience that we seldom notice it is there.

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In future writings it is my intention to look more deeply at the resulting book by the same title, We English, and to investigate Roberts’ own inspirations drawn from both the world of painting and from the work of other prominent photographers of the 20th Century. I will also give space for the works contained in the book ‘How we are: Photographing Britain’ as published and exhibited by the Tate.

Roberts, S. (2007-2008). We English. https://www.simoncroberts.com/work/we-english/