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

Nues V

Manarola. Cinque Terre

Blue Lagoon

Sea and mountains

The Beach in Corfu

Cloudy night

Evening Venice

Collection Bleu d'été - Junior suite Sea View

Night in blue

Full moon time

Matière Bleue

Morning calm

Blue abstract painting BC458

Blue abstract painting SL433

Midnight Blue

Light #4

Light #21

Blue #40

Silent Heights in Mist

Mountains at Sunset

Peaceful beach

AV_Miami_016

Moonlit night at sea

On the deserted beach

Night storm

Promenade Azuréenne

The Path to the Sun

Sunset in the Port

Paysage de la dune

Paysage du bassin

French Riviera Series - turquoise seascape horizon impressionsm

From the Series Blue Lagoon Ocean 2482023

From the Series Blue Lagoon Ocean 2492023

From the Series Blue Lagoon Ocean 2092023

Aqua seas 210719

A magical world

Post cards from the beach #25

Temporal Perception #37

Miami_II_003

Golden bay

Dali - collection spéciale Grands Formats

Abstract Navigation

Océan au Crépuscule

Abstract Coral Reef

Hawaii Coral Reef

Hawaii Coral Reef Textured Painting

Grinda Yacht

Adria_Panorama_01

Versilia_Panorama_04

Versilia_Panorama_02

Versilia_Panorama_01

AV_Cruiseship_Panorma

November Mist lll

Before The Rain

Royan n°15 (mer, landes)

Round Ocean #85

Black Sea. Ukraine

Emerald

Seashore

Round Ocean #86

Grotto

Spring Tide

The snorkelist (1)

Comme un Poisson Dans l'Eau

Sans titre

- Rodeo 2