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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Subcategories

Sea

Varangeville - Côte normande

Rokko

Beauty in a Yellow Dress

Maillot rouge

Friends

Surf rouge

Yellow Fish Stream

Dériver dans l'instant

Sans Titre

My Ukraine

Morning Light

Moods 1

Le vent s'est levé sur l'eau toute ourlée - Paysage marin de La Nouvelle Calédonie

Kotor Corner

Barbarian sea spit

South Town

At the Laspi

Balaclava

Paysage à Ibiza

Embrasement

Embrasement II

Eyes of the Wind

Silver Linings

Ablazing horizon

Water Reflection No 4

When the Beach is Your Parking Lot

What is the sea singing about in a shell?

Evening city over the sea bay. The triptych. An atmospheric seascape in blue

Seaside Play

Cap au Sud

Cyanotypie Rascasse

Goldfish XLV

Goldfish XLII

Goldfish XLIII

Sea water heals everything!))

Hot Evening

Evening rest

Italy, Via di Streda

Ecume

To see with eyes unclouded

Life is a winking light in the darkness

Now go, and don't look back

Spirited away

Gurzuf

Big fish

Fishing nets

Glare on the waves. Original painting

Gray moon

Moon rise

Bright sunset

Sea colors

Blue times

Sea Spray (Sjøsprøyt)

Marzo

Marée haute

Adano

Quiet evening in the Old Port

Evening near the lighthouse

Calm sea

Evening in Lazurny

Near the yacht club

Stormy evening

On the pier

View of Cape Meganom

Sea

Night tide