The Wave 1898

Roderic O’Conor created this painting, titled The Wave, using oil paints on canvas. The energetic brushwork and contrasting dark blues and white hues invite you to observe the dynamic surface of the painting itself. O’Conor captured the power of the ocean through quick, gestural marks, and you can almost feel the movement of the water and hear the crashing of the waves. By applying the paint so thickly, the artist made the materiality of his work visible. The texture and weight of the paint contribute to its appearance and imbue the artwork with a sense of immediacy and vitality. In this way, O'Conor transformed the traditional media of paint into an experience, challenging distinctions between representation and pure expression.