Landscape vs. seascape? What kind of painting would you choose? A lot has been said about artworks depicting mountains, cliffs, and trees, while so little is known about waves, ships, and raging storms. Marine art holds a central position in the world of 17th-19th art.

Those were Dutch and British masters who first made nautical culture one of the most progressive ones in the realm of fine art. If you still can’t remember the name of your favorite ship painting, maybe you should explore more about maritime art. At the end of the day, there are many reasons why people love it!

Four Convincing Reasons to Love Marine Art

1. Pure joy

Whether it is a painting of a war battle or a calm sea with one small boat, marine culture will always be an object of admiration in visual arts. It is no secret that many people are just crazy about maritime painters such as Thomas Buttersworth, J. M. W. Turner, and Winslow Homer.

2. New focus

Sea paintings are a good example of art that focuses on water as a powerful element and not just a romantic background. Every element has emotion and memory. It is up to a painter how they shape it.

3. Different historical context

The thing is that the majority of all marine art masterpieces were created between the 17th and 19th centuries. It was the chronological heart of the so-called Age of Sail. That is why when you explore maritimely aesthetics, you will need to explore it through a piece of concentrated history.

4. Rapid art movement evolution

Because of the peculiarity mentioned above, exploring every new painting of a squadron or a single ship is a whole new lesson of the history of art. That is why it is so common to see the rapid evolution of genres within the maritime art movement itself.

What about you? Do you love marine art? And if yes, what exactly gets your blood pumping?