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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Categories

Subcategories

Sea

Chania lighthouse 2

Elafonissi beach 2

Ionic Vista

"Au fil de l'eau" figuratif paysage marin acrylique sur lin 100x120cm 2018

Brouillard d'Automne

Regate Atlantique

Sun Setting Over Laguna

No Name - I

The Couple

Yellow Flag

Labyrinth

Tree

Dry Grass

Lucky

1915 Mer et pierres Sea and stones

Eastern Crimea

Evasion - Limited Edition of 10 Fine Art Prints

Storm at sea

Seascape Akamas

Midcentury Coastal Hues

Cabina rossa

Faro centrale

Sunset at Sea

Serenity on the Horizon

Boat II

A vivid red moon

Untitled 1872

Illusion

A view of the bay and city of Sissi. Crete

Fin d'été

Kurion Beach

My sweet summer Provence

Colorful summer

On The Russian River

Early Afternoon at the River

Afternoon on the Russian River

Rauba Capeu N°1

Le Mourillon La Source

Allí

Coral leaf

Silence de l'aube

Storm

Along the Way

Sea, the Way I Like It

Surface de la mer 20

Surface de la mer 16

Seeing the Light

Beach

Eucalyptus trees and sea

KVLSVIK Slide

Surface de la mer 31

Surface de la mer 29

Abstraction dans la baie de Sunchéon - Corée

Série : Pièces de mer de Castoul

Série : Pièces de mer de Castoul

Série : Pièces de mer de Castoul

Sunny beach

Les barques rouges

Ma liberté

Moonlight

Pollara - Landscape Collection

La statue

Coucher de soleil sur le rivage Ref BDNW10746

Ciel rose sur le rivage Ref BDNW10745

Rivage temps gris Ref BDNW10742

Relax - Landscape Collection