Joseph Mallord William Turner – Fishermen at Sea Tate Britain (London)

Description of William Turner’s painting Fishermen at Sea

It is interesting to note that William Turner was a master of the watercolor technique, but nevertheless, among his series of ten watercolor works, only one was done in oil, and that work was Fishermen at Sea.

In fact, the painter didn’t paint in this technique, but on every free occasion he took to studying this painting technique, by studying the workshops where artists worked in this technique and various works of old masters.

It’s worth noting that this painting has received a lot of positive feedback, however, as the artist himself, the skill of the technique of working in oil, was at a high enough level. Turning directly to the painting itself, it’s impossible not to notice how the master pays particular attention to all the smallest details. You can see that the artist, performing a rendering of the sea water, you can see the perfect transfer of light, shadow and glare, you can even see how the master passes all the subtleties of reflections from the light of the lantern and the moon.

When painting, you can feel that the artist is trying to maximize the emotional state and the feeling that everything in this world, is on a thin, unstable edge. At the same time, it is impossible not to notice that such a state in the picture, directly conveys the state of the artist himself, his subtle world. This relevance is accentuated by the moonlight, which for a moment lifts the veil of darkness over the sailors and the viewer can see their confusion and helplessness before the mighty force of the elements.

The canvas is dominated by cold green shades, which further intensifies the emotions prevailing in the picture. Together with the skilful use of highlights, the sea abyss becomes literally alive and transmits its energy to the viewer.