Famous Ocean Paintings – World-Renowned Paintings of the Sea

For some, the ocean means sustenance, adventure, and opportunities. However, others see it as a cruel mistress that is dangerous and unpredictable. The truth is, the ocean is all of these things. It is multifaceted, and that is why it has been such a great source of inspiration for artists throughout the ages. In this article, some of the most beloved Ocean paintings in art history will be discussed.

A Brief Introduction to Paintings of the Ocean

The ocean is a significant part of many cultures around the world. For many coastal regions, the sea was a way people could feed their families and make a living. Therefore, it became sacred and was often worshipped in the form of a deity. We see this all over the world such as Poseidon, the ancient Greek god of the sea, or Mazu, the goddess of the sea in Chinese mythology.

It is hard to pinpoint when people first started to create artwork that celebrated the ocean. Many ancient artifacts from around the world have been found with sea motifs on them. Scrolls dating back to the Song dynasty (960-1279) in China were found with dedicated paintings of the sea on them.

This, along with scrolls from Japan that date back to the 1300s, has led art historians to believe that paintings of the ocean were popular in the East hundreds of years before they were in the West.

It is only in the 16th century that the emergence of famous ocean artwork can be seen in Europe. Seascapes become particularly relevant during the Dutch Golden Age (1588-1672). During this time, the Netherlands was one of the wealthiest countries in the world due to its widespread trade and naval prowess. For this reason, there are numerous famous paintings from this time that depict magnificent naval ships amid battle.

Battle of the Spanish and the Dutch Fleet on May 1573, at the Time of the Siege of Haarlem (c. late 1620s) by Andries van Eertvelt; Andries van Eertvelt, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

In the 1800s, during the Romantic art movement, paintings of the sea rose in popularity once more. Traveling via ship led to the discovery of new, untouched lands such as North America. This meant that the ocean became synonymous with exploration and hope. Many artists who made the journey to foreign lands documented their time on the sea through paintings, which they sold upon their return.

Shortly after the Romantics, artists of the Impressionism movement (1867-1886) were also captivated by the sea. Many spent most of their day painting the ocean en plein air from beaches or piers. What fascinated the Impressionists most was the behavior of light and how it changed nature.

Rocks at Belle-lle, Port-Domois (1886) by Claude Monet; Claude Monet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The creation of famous ocean paintings did not stop with the Impressionists. On the contrary, countless later artists were also stimulated by the beauty of the sea, which encouraged them to create their own paintings of the ocean.