Ships in the Sound 1910 - 1917

Poul S. Christiansen painted ‘Ships in the Sound’ using oil on canvas. It's a piece where the process feels so present, almost like the brushstrokes are breathing. The materiality of this piece is fascinating. You can practically feel the wind and the salt spray just by looking at the way Christiansen has layered the paint, thick in some areas, thin and washy in others. The colour palette, mostly muted blues, greys, and creams, evokes a sense of tranquility and vastness. Look at how the light catches the crests of the waves; notice the tiny dabs of white that suggest the foam. It’s an art of suggestion, not of perfect representation. It is, I think, very reminiscent of the work of Whistler. What strikes me most is its ambiguity. The ships, the sea, the sky – are all rendered with a kind of hazy softness, inviting us to bring our own interpretations and experiences to the scene. It's as if Christiansen is saying, "Here is a starting point, now let your imagination set sail."