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

Two in a Boat

Evening River. Seascape original painting

Good Day. Seascape original painting

Great Day. Seascape original painting

Blue Sail

Yellow Boats

Two Sail

Night City Lights

Boats

Lots of Yachts

On the Pier

View of the Bay

Evening

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Evening. Laguna Beach

From the series "Ocean" - 2

Blue Night water

Summer sunset

Palms. Ocean 12

Glare on the water 33

Warm light on the water

Ocean Glow 3

Sunset Magic 6

Glare on the waves

Glare on the water 36

Summer in California

Berth

Fisher boy

Horizon

Sunshine setwaves

Aldwick Wave

Sea and Rock

Mediterranean Pines

Fantasy Sunset

Cabin close to the ocean

Méditerranée - Collection Femme à la peau bleue

Positano coast

Marina Antibes. France

Cyanotypie herbier sous marin N°3

Cyanotypie herbier sous marin N°2

Les voix de l'océan... (Paysage Abstrait)

En mer de Croatie... (Esprit voile)

Les voiliers de Saint-Tropez... (Esprit voile)

Carré bleu - petit - 2

Coast of freedom

Azure coast dream

Magic of the French Riviera

Whisper of the sea.

Waiting for the Ship

Sunset Sails

Sea fair

The coasts of dreams

Una stanza con vista

Colorful day

Night life

Nymph of the fading sun

Best wave I

Keep your cool

Reflections of Serenity

Lacanau océan

Rayon de soleil après un orage, mer Noire en juin

Seascape sailing impressions L 6

SIMPLICITÉ

DEAUVILLE LES PARASOLS, ON ARRIVE

Deauville si chaud

Stormy Open Water Blues