Description
Aivazovsky's popularity at home was unprecedented. In 1850, Nicholas I, the Emperor of Russia, acquired 'The Ninth Wave' painted by the 33-year-old artist. During the boat trip with the artist, standing on the deck, the Emperor said: "Aivazovsky! I am the king of the land, and you are the king of the sea!"
The depiction of seascapes is a kind of cult in Ivan Aivazovsky's artwork, and his genius is unmatched. In all the artist's canvases, the main focus is always on the sea. Everything else - people, ships, buildings in the background - only serves as a harmonious addition to the theme, creating an entourage. Thus, in Aivazovsky's painting Night on the Black Sea, all attention is focused on natural elements.
The sea has attracted the artist since childhood. He admired it for a long time, carefully studied every detail, every cloud or stone on the shore, in order to show this perfection of nature on the canvas as realistically as possible. Aivazovsky was born and raised in Feodosia, where he met his main muse, the Black Sea. It appears in most of the artist's works, in a variety of forms and states. At the same time, the painter tries to convey not only the naturalism of natural elements, but also gives psychological meaning to his works. Each canvas of the master is full of philosophy and makes the viewer think about life in one way or another. First of all, it testifies to the emotional and dreamy nature of genius.
Aivazovsky's Night on the Black Sea is considered one of his most powerful works. The canvas represents the moon that partially hides behind the clouds to illuminate the path of sea travelers. And the restless water that splashes from the banks is literally filled with its radiance. This light spills over the clouds, making the seascape more saturated. When Aivazovsky depicted the Black Sea, he loved to play with light, setting the tone of the entire canvas, giving it a certain mood. This technique allowed him to convey the special beauty of the water surface, to outline the volume of waves slowly moving on the water.
Although Aivazovsky's painting Night on the Black Sea depicts a small storm, it evokes a sense of calm and tranquility. The boat gently cuts through the water towards its destination. The artist represented it in the distance to give the effect of infinity to the sea. The moon serves as the main point of reference for the ship, directing its movement and accompanying it throughout the journey, like a faithful companion.
Laconic colors create an integral palette of the canvas. The painter chose a restricted palette, which made it possible to realistically recreate the night landscape and convey the state of nature. The restless sea is clearly outlined from the celestial expanse by the line of the horizon. The dark sky looks like a black abyss compared to the brightly lit surface of the water.
This landscape conveys the great strength and beauty of the natural elements, which turn the small boat into a defenseless toy. At any time, you can become a victim of the rapacious sea. Aivazovsky makes you think about this, feel all the power of nature. And if you look closer, you can even feel how a light breeze runs through your skin, moving the waves in the image.