From Hemingway to Hokusai, the simultaneous beauty and turmoil of the seascape has provided inspiration for artists throughout history. Now, Steve O'Neill explores TheGallery's collection to discover why the seascape holds such an omnipresent draw.

Among TheGallery’s landscapes is a subset of works focussing on the sea. The mysterious, unknowable, and unpredictable force of nature has been a source of admiration and fear for artists across the world, a mirror and canvas for emotions. Turbulent or serene, storm-ridden or cloudless, Steve asks the motive behind the artistic choices in each piece.

What does the subject matter say about the artist’s psyche? How is the sea’s state representative of their emotions at the time of its creation? And how can we use this to learn about the world these artists lived in?

Take this tour for £1.50.
Or sign-up for a subscription and see ten tours for £10.