Long Ship’s Lighthouse, Land’s End c. 1834 - 1835

Turner painted Long Ship’s Lighthouse, Land’s End, depicting a maritime scene of human struggle against natural forces. Here, the lighthouse stands distant and blurred, a beacon against the overwhelming power of the storm. This image echoes the ancient motif of the “ship of life,” battling against the chaotic sea, a symbol that has resonated through millennia, from the Egyptian barques of the dead to the Greek myths of sea voyages. The raging sea, a classic symbol for unconsciousness, is a motif we find in many art forms throughout history. In ancient maps, sea monsters lurked at the edge of the known world, representing the fearsome unknown. Notice how Turner captures the sublime terror of nature. The lighthouse, a symbol of safety, seems almost futile against the tempest's might. This painting is not just a depiction of a storm; it’s an exploration of the primal human emotions tied to the sea, with the cyclical progression of the struggle against chaotic forces, which resurfaces time and again in our collective consciousness.