The Tomb of Achilles 1910

Adolf Hirémy-Hirschl made this painting, The Tomb of Achilles, on a large canvas with oil paint. Look at these figures—this churning sea. Hirémy-Hirschl must have labored to capture the energy of this moment. I can imagine him, brush in hand, trying to translate the roar and crash of the waves onto the canvas. The paint is applied in such a way that you can almost feel the spray on your skin. He really built up the surface of the canvas. Can you see how thickly the paint is applied? It gives everything a certain… weight. The artist's interest in capturing movement, energy and emotion through paint reminds me of Turner's seascapes. I like to think of artists in conversation with each other. Ultimately, this painting isn't just about Achilles. It's about the act of remembering, about loss, and about the enduring power of art to keep these stories alive.