Sea



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, Old bath, Galya Popova

Old bath

Galya Popova

Painting - 70 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$2,619

Painting, Ciel gris, Sophie Dumont

Ciel gris

Sophie Dumont

Painting - 75 x 75 x 2 cm Painting - 29.5 x 29.5 x 0.8 inch

$4,643

Painting, Shadow, Galya Popova

Shadow

Galya Popova

Painting - 70 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

$2,738

Painting, Renverse, Sophie Dumont

Renverse

Sophie Dumont

Painting - 50 x 61 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 24 x 0.8 inch

$3,453

Fine Art Drawings, Palermo_07, Galya Popova

Palermo_07

Galya Popova

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch

$2,143

Painting, Le bassin, Eurgal

Le bassin

Eurgal

Painting - 60 x 73 x 2.5 cm Painting - 23.6 x 28.7 x 1 inch

$2,917

Painting, Vue du ciel, Âme Sauvage

Vue du ciel

Âme Sauvage

Painting - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch

$107

Painting, Melody, Galya Popova

Melody

Galya Popova

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

$3,274

Painting, Le phare, Eurgal

Le phare

Eurgal

Painting - 60 x 60 x 2.5 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 1 inch

$2,381

Painting, La barque blanche, Eurgal

La barque blanche

Eurgal

Painting - 60 x 60 x 2.5 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 1 inch

$2,381

Painting, La bouée, Eurgal

La bouée

Eurgal

Painting - 60 x 60 x 2.5 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 1 inch

$2,381

Painting, Rivage, Eurgal

Rivage

Eurgal

Painting - 60 x 60 x 2.5 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 1 inch

$2,381

Painting, Sous le vent, Eurgal

Sous le vent

Eurgal

Painting - 54 x 65 x 2.5 cm Painting - 21.3 x 25.6 x 1 inch

$2,262

Painting, Horizon bleu, Eurgal

Horizon bleu

Eurgal

Painting - 40 x 40 x 2.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1 inch

$1,429

Painting, Arbre rouge, Eurgal

Arbre rouge

Eurgal

Painting - 40 x 40 x 2.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1 inch

$1,429

Print, Landscape, Alex Katz

Landscape

Alex Katz

Print - 66 x 112 x 0.1 cm Print - 26 x 44.1 x 0 inch

$11,905

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