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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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Print, L'escalier, Maude Ovize

L'escalier

Maude Ovize

Print - 49 x 70 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.3 x 27.6 x 0 inch

$357

Painting, Sea III, Sven Pfrommer

Sea III

Sven Pfrommer

Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

$821

Painting, Touch III, Michael Grine

Touch III

Michael Grine

Painting - 30.5 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Painting - 12 x 16 x 2 inch

$300

Painting, Nirvana, Brigitte Dravet

Nirvana

Brigitte Dravet

Painting - 50 x 60 x 5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 23.6 x 2 inch

$2,024

Painting, Poissons, Pierrick Tual

Poissons

Pierrick Tual

Painting - 27 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 10.6 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

$786

Painting, Ocean 2., Iryna Kastsova

Ocean 2.

Iryna Kastsova

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

$2,572

Painting, Storm tent, Peter de Boer

Storm tent

Peter de Boer

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

$4,405

Print, Sunset Cove, Alex Katz

Sunset Cove

Alex Katz

Print - 34.8 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 13.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$5,953

Painting, Ginestart, Raquel Adan

Ginestart

Raquel Adan

Painting - 40 x 30 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 inch

$714

Painting, Selfie, Alexander Levich

Selfie

Alexander Levich

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,036

Painting, Storm (1), Dam Domido

Storm (1)

Dam Domido

Painting - 93 x 93 x 0.01 cm Painting - 36.6 x 36.6 x 0 inch

$2,381

Painting, Dreams, Andrii Chebotaru

Dreams

Andrii Chebotaru

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

$5,595

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

$1,300

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