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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Sea

Baltic_Ice_Kakumaee_005

La nuit des voiliers... (Esprit voile 2016)

In port

Coque de bateau - Île d'Aix

La déferlante en mer

Caleta Beach

Bright Life Underwater Painting was created underwater at the depth of 9.6m

Kaleidoskope Underwater Painting was created underwater at the depth of 7.6m

Sardines Underwater painting was created underwater at the depth of 7.1m

Rêverie en bleue

Big fish

Hersonissos Overcast

Kotor

Emotion

Porto Pollo_10

Sardinia. Porto Pollo_8

Sardinia. Porto Pollo_6

Sardinia. Porto Pollo_5

Sardinia. Porto Pollo_3

Sardinia. Porto Pollo_2

Sardinia. Porto Pollo _ 01

Dive into painting - Letters N°2

Baltic_Ice_II_Helsinki_013

Baltic_Ice_II_Helsinki_012

Tempête

Les estrans (série)

Les estrans (série)

Solar Regatta

Vagues

Aqua alta

Sans titre

Beauport

Sans titre (diptyque)

View From The Tate

Snorkelling In The Shallows

Childhood

Dawning sea

The prospect of rest

In the cobweb mast

Ruins of civilization

Evening on the shore

Lake Ossiach

Les pieds dans l’eau, la tête ailleurs

L'émotion de la mer

Banquette de posidonies

Ensablement des posidonies

My dream

Pampelonne

L'heure bleue en route

Tropics Painting Coral Reef Fish Original Oil on Canvas Impasto Painting

Endless horizons

Bait Ball Sardines

Ocean's Rhythm

There is sea and mountains around

Mystic harbour

Whale

Bay

Amber Surf

Maï Aqui ?

En voie de disparition IV

A wave on the sea

Kermouster

L'heure bleue 030817

Sea I

Full Calm

Evening Naousa