Seascape Drawings

Seascape drawings cater to man's perennial fascination with the sea as a source of abundance, raw power, and beauty. Since the beginning of mankind, cultures adjacent to the coast have revered the majesty and mystery of the ocean. Similarly, as long as humans have been drawing, they have produced renditions of the sea to preserve its capricious and ephemeral visage, whether captured in a tempestuous rage or placid stillness.

Certain artists, such as John Frederick Kensett and Winslow Homer, are arguably best known for their seascapes. The diversity of seascape drawings offers a testament to the countless ways that the oceans and shore appear depending on the season, weather, and time of day, as well as the myriad ways in which these observations can be illustrated.

Quick Facts

• John Frederick Kensett, a 19th century artist, is a master of the movement known as "Luminism." His seaside drawings are renowned for their lifelike realism and what some regard as an alien stillness that pervades the landscapes
• Winslow Homer’s seascapes, by contrast, tend to emphasize the ferocious potential of the oceans. They are typically executed in expressive and gestural strokes
• While the paintings of acclaimed masters such as Kensett and Homer can be worth in excess of many hundreds of thousands of dollars, drawings of a similar style can often be purchased for several thousand