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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, Splash, Christiane Papé

Splash

Christiane Papé

Painting - 81.3 x 86.4 x 1.3 cm Painting - 32 x 34 x 0.5 inch

$1,550

Painting, Remendando, AVEL Muñoz

Remendando

AVEL Muñoz

Painting - 46 x 55 x 3 cm Painting - 18.1 x 21.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,369

Painting, Falling Wave, Bela Riera

Falling Wave

Bela Riera

Painting - 116 x 178 x 2.5 cm Painting - 45.7 x 70.1 x 1 inch

$7,143

Painting, Desire, Bela Riera

Desire

Bela Riera

Painting - 116 x 178 x 2.5 cm Painting - 45.7 x 70.1 x 1 inch

$7,143

Painting, Vanishing, Bela Riera

Vanishing

Bela Riera

Painting - 116 x 178 x 2.5 cm Painting - 45.7 x 70.1 x 1 inch

$7,143

Painting, Summer day, Foti Fotev

Summer day

Foti Fotev

Painting - 60 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$2,500

Painting, By the rocks, Foti Fotev

By the rocks

Foti Fotev

Painting - 60 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$2,500

Painting, Lace shore, Foti Fotev

Lace shore

Foti Fotev

Painting - 60 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$2,500

Painting, Naufragés, Boudier

Naufragés

Boudier

Painting - 65 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,548

Painting, True blue, Ana Hefco

True blue

Ana Hefco

Painting - 91.4 x 121.9 x 3.8 cm Painting - 36 x 48 x 1.5 inch

$5,300

Painting, Grotto, Menkiv Anatoliy

Grotto

Menkiv Anatoliy

Painting - 90 x 116 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 45.7 x 0.8 inch

$2,262

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