Sea at night 

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky painted this seascape with oil on canvas. The artist employed traditional methods, painstakingly layering and blending pigments to conjure the ethereal moonlit scene. What’s striking is the artist's manipulation of the viscous medium to represent the turbulent, formidable sea. Notice the thick, deliberate brushstrokes that capture the texture and movement of the undulating waves. Aivazovsky’s mastery of light and shadow transforms the mundane materials into a captivating depiction of nature's power. A close look reveals the amount of physical work involved in creating this artwork. From grinding pigments to layering countless coats of paint, the artist's labour is embedded in the final composition. Aivazovsky’s seascape encourages us to recognize the skill, effort, and material transformation that bridge the gap between craft and fine art.