Tidal Wave and Dreadnought 1908

Antonio Jacobsen made this painting, Tidal Wave and Dreadnought, and it looks like he used oil paints with a light touch. There is such detail in the ships, it's clear he knew what he was doing. The way Jacobsen applied the paint so smoothly makes me think about process. Did he underpaint with a layer of thin colour first? The waves are rendered with lots of small brushstrokes in different shades of blue. The way the light hits the sails is beautifully done. He's really captured the gleam of the sun on the water, and the whole scene feels airy and bright. Jacobsen must have been familiar with marine vessels - like a lot of American painters in the 19th century he's celebrating industry and invention, but maybe also implying something about the sublime power of nature. Turner's paintings of ships come to mind. This piece reminds us that art is a way of seeing, but also a conversation across time.