Much has been said about the sea’s economic importance, environmental value, and societal contribution. However, the sea is more than a bunch of biological or chemical measures and parameters; it is more than fishing routines, walks for tourists, and days in the sun; the sea is also arts. Throughout history, the sea has been equated to the pen that dictates the lyrics of poetry, to the instrument that articulates the chord of perfect harmony, to the brush that outlines an impeccable line and to the staging of a masterpiece. In other words, the sea has been a source of inspiration for many in different artistic dimensions.
The reference to the sea in poetry as in literature dates back hundreds of years. The Seafarer, poetry written around 450 CE, exemplifies the age-old presence of the sea in writers’ thoughts. In this poem written in first person, a sailor narrates his life at sea, describing it as dangerous and lonely while comparing it to a stay on land full of family and joy. For Walt Whitman (1819-1892), the sea was always a source of inspiration. He felt great love and admiration for the ocean and its people (fishermen, boatmen, port workers, etc.). His work is full of marine metaphors and direct references to the sea. For example, his poem Oh Captain! My Captain! refers to Abraham Lincoln as the captain of a ship that symbolizes the United States.
In painting, the sea has also been present. Many artists have tried to capture the immensity of the sea, its peace and tranquillity, but also its strength and violence. The sea has been seen as an entity with a changing temperament that must be respected. For instance, in his painting Stormy Sea (1857), Simon Marcus Larson tries to capture a sea lying in wait and ready for attack. The use of warm and dark colours instead of blue is striking, which generates the idea of warning and danger. By contrast, Claude Monet (one of the most successful painters of the Impressionist era), in his work The sea at Pourville (1882), tries to convey the peace and tranquillity that emanates from the sea, using smooth colours of blue tones and with strokes without blurring, creating an effect of movement.
The sea is also melody. Many are those who have tried to write its score and capture its harmony. Undoubtedly, one of the most successful works that give homage to the blue giant is the composition La Mer (1905) by Claude Debussy. La Mer is divided into three moments: from dawn to midday on the sea, play of the waves, and dialogue between the wind and the sea. Through these moments, Debussy evokes the past and the present, creating a dialogue that moves through time and from which emanates emotions that contrast between calm and frenzy. We cannot forget to mention the work of Richard Wagner, the Flying Dutchman, a composition that describes the story of a ghost ship condemned to wander the seas, unable to return to port and made famous by the Pirates of the Caribbean film.
Thus, the sea has been and will continue to be an eternal inspiration for the different forms of artistic expression beyond those mentioned in this article. Sometimes science is not enough to understand and capture the meaning of the seas around us.
Photo by James Lee via Unplash
