1840 (ca.), J.M.W. Turner, Seascape with Storm Coming On -- Tate Britain (London)
From the museum label: The colouring of this unfinished seascape gives it a sense of energy. Warm tones sit alongside cooler tones. The colours, built up through many layers of paint, give it movement and depth. The sky is tinged with warmer, sunnier tones of red and yellow, while the 'storm' in the title likely refers to the deep grey cloud on the left. The unidentified grey-black mass at the centre stands out in stark contrast. Turner may have been thinking of shipwrecks or of whales, as seen in other paintings displayed nearby. Even without knowing what the artist intended, this dark and mysterious shape remains a compelling focal point.
1840 (ca.), J.M.W. Turner, Seascape with Storm Coming On -- Tate Britain (London)
From the museum label: The colouring of this unfinished seascape gives it a sense of energy. Warm tones sit alongside cooler tones. The colours, built up through many layers of paint, give it movement and depth. The sky is tinged with warmer, sunnier tones of red and yellow, while the 'storm' in the title likely refers to the deep grey cloud on the left. The unidentified grey-black mass at the centre stands out in stark contrast. Turner may have been thinking of shipwrecks or of whales, as seen in other paintings displayed nearby. Even without knowing what the artist intended, this dark and mysterious shape remains a compelling focal point.