SeascapePeder Balke · 1845

Romanticism
1845
31.0 x 42.0 cm

Majestic mountains and immense, churning clouds are indifferent to the course of a steamer chugging along the coast, trailed by gulls. This work, a tour de force of Balke’s ability to dematerialize form through the use of a limited palette, strikes a balance between painterly effect and a poetic vision that aspires to the Sublime. This composition exists in a number of variants. One of these, Fresh Breeze, Bindalen, is dated 1848 (now in the KODE Art Museums of Bergen). It is thus possible that the present work represents Heilhornet, the impressive mountain at Bindal on the central coast of Norway that Balke passed in 1832; if so, he took liberties with the topography.

Peder Balke (1804 – 1887)

Discover Peder Balke (1804-1887), a Norwegian Romantic painter celebrated for dramatic landscapes & social activism. Explore his sublime depictions of Norway's nature and unique artistic vision.

About this artwork

Title: Seascape
Artist: Peder Balke
Year: 1845
Original dimensions: 31.0 x 42.0 cm
Format: Landscape
Copyright status: Public domain
Inventory number: DEP662
Keywords: 1845 oil painting, dramatic seascape art, balke seascape art
Color hue: Green to Violet Spectrum
Color intensity: Monochromatic

Questions & Answers

What does the 1845 date of "Seascape" correspond to in Peder Balke's career?

"Seascape", created in 1845, belongs to the Mature Period of Peder Balke's career.

How is "Seascape" by Peder Balke proportioned, and how big is it?

The format of "Seascape" is landscape, and the original measures 31 x 42 cm. Both are useful when planning a reproduction.

Where does "Seascape" stand among Peder Balke's recurring subjects?

"Seascape" depicts seascape, norway, mountains, stormy sea, sublime, nature, landscape, balke, while Peder Balke's recorded themes are key norwegian scene, early romanticism, series of coastscapes, romantic landscape, norwegian nature, dramatic lighting, nature's power, human struggle. Comparing the two shows how the work relates to the artist's usual subjects.