Seascape with Icebergs 1877

William Bradford painted "Seascape with Icebergs" using oil on canvas, a traditional medium for his time. The way Bradford uses paint here influences how we see the arctic landscape. Note how the texture of the brushstrokes gives the icebergs a rugged, almost palpable quality. This wasn't just about depicting a scene; it was about making you feel the chill and see the stark reality of the Arctic. Bradford engaged with the skilled traditions of landscape painting, building on aesthetics of Romanticism. His paintings weren't just artistic endeavors, though. They were tied to wider social issues, especially the expansion of trade routes and colonial exploration. Many artists were funded by wealthy patrons and corporations looking to chart new territories and resources, and capitalize on the labor and resources of distant lands. By emphasizing these materials, making processes, and social contexts, we start to understand how "Seascape with Icebergs" extends beyond a pretty picture. It becomes a window into the history of exploration, labor, and our relationship with the environment.