Sea. Sunny Day 

"Sea. Sunny Day" was painted by Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky using oil paints, a medium allowing for his characteristically luminous depiction of the sea. Aivazovsky skillfully layers translucent glazes to capture the shifting qualities of water and light. The materiality of oil paint, with its capacity for both delicate blending and impasto texture, greatly influences the image. Look closely at the crests of the waves, where you can see the artist applied thicker paint to mimic the seafoam. The ship represents the social context in which this painting was produced; it symbolizes not just a vessel but also an era of maritime trade, exploration, and naval power. In Aivazovsky’s time, the artist had a central role in the production of culture, which was entwined with the grand narratives of nationhood and progress. Consider how the artist's mastery over his materials and techniques informs our understanding and appreciation, and bridges the gap between art, craft, and the social forces that shaped them.