Swells in the Ocean c. 1890

Winslow Homer captured these “Swells in the Ocean” using graphite and white chalk. Look at the powerful, rhythmic lines that define the waves. Across cultures, the ocean symbolizes the primal chaos from which life emerges. Think of the serpent Jörmungandr in Norse mythology, a creature of the sea whose movements bring about the end of the world. Here, the waves carry the weight of nature’s untamed force. The way Homer renders the ocean's dynamism reminds me of Hokusai's "The Great Wave," where the sea is depicted as an overwhelming, almost predatory force. Yet, Homer's swells are not as overtly menacing; the ocean is a mirror reflecting our internal struggles, anxieties, and awe. This image engages us on a subconscious level, evoking our most primal fears and our enduring quest to understand the forces that shape our existence. The swells resonate as a non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols that resurface and evolve with each viewing, echoing through time.