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Majestic and tyrannical, the sea has never ceased to fascinate artists. Untameable, this force of nature seems to have a life of its own and has inspired many artists. Since antiquity, the sea has been represented in all its glory, century after century it is honoured through various styles and colours. However, this desire to escape to the great outdoors is certainly not only reserved for 21st century painters

Maritime art began at the same time as history painting - in the 15th century, and they share many common traits. Maritime painting mostly depicts scenes of combat, historical incidents and mythology where people play a crucial role. It wasn't until the 17th century that artists stopped depicting people in their seascapes and focused solely on the representation of the landscape itself instead.

In the Middle Ages, shipwrecks and storms terrorised citizens as they interpreted them as signs of God's wrath. he church even used images of the rough sea to hold power over its believers.

Representations in classical painting were strictly governed by academic rules, and often didn't manage to convey true emotion. Maritime scenes joined the mainstream in the 19th century, especially with the arrival of the Romantic period as emotions played a much greater role in marine painting. The two great masters of the period were J.M.W Turner and Caspar David Friedrich who captured the attention of their contemporaries and whose works continue to mesmerise us today.

For the impressionists, the sea was a sublimation of nature. During the 19th century, artists come out of their studios in order to paint and describe nature as they saw  and feel it. By the end of the 19th century, the sea was no longer a simple, blue expanse but rather an eruption of emotions illuminated through painting.

Contemporary art offers a new insight into creation. Today, the technique is overrun by the message and intention of the work. Therefore, we find all varieties of sea illustrations where the sea becomes an image of contemporary creation. Even though the sea is sometimes reinvented, it remains true to reality.

The new generation of contemporary artists create works that depict freshness, escape, lost coves, waves, and that salty seaside air. Discover our selection inspired by ocean waters.





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Painting, Sable pourpre, Eurgal

Sable pourpre

Eurgal

Painting - 81 x 100 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.9 x 39.4 x 1 inch

CHF 3,422

Painting, Caribbean Dream, Ana Hefco

Caribbean Dream

Ana Hefco

Painting - 61 x 45.7 x 3.8 cm Painting - 24 x 18 x 1.5 inch

CHF 1,112

Painting, Rêverie…, Olivier Messas

Rêverie…

Olivier Messas

Painting - 80 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 4,889

Painting, Tranquil XXII, Tiberiu Soos

Tranquil XXII

Tiberiu Soos

Painting - 100 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 968

Painting, Estran, Jacques Robert

Estran

Jacques Robert

Painting - 80 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

CHF 2,836

Painting, Sud, Marie Deforche

Sud

Marie Deforche

Painting - 73 x 91 x 4 cm Painting - 28.7 x 35.8 x 1.6 inch

CHF 1,760

Painting, Ella, Marie Deforche

Ella

Marie Deforche

Painting - 80 x 80 x 4 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch

CHF 1,711

Photography, AV_Miami_011, Bernhard Lang

AV_Miami_011

Bernhard Lang

Photography - 96 x 120 x 2 cm Photography - 37.8 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,435

Painting, La côte 1b, Ivan Tzonev

La côte 1b

Ivan Tzonev

Painting - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

CHF 147

Painting, Gold spark, Brigitte Dravet

Gold spark

Brigitte Dravet

Painting - 80 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 3,422

Painting, Vinterbad, Marie Sandell

Vinterbad

Marie Sandell

Painting - 66 x 90 x 2.5 cm Painting - 26 x 35.4 x 1 inch

CHF 2,151

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