Coast Scene with Cliffs 

Algernon Talmage painted this "Coast Scene with Cliffs" using oil on canvas. The rugged cliffs stand defiant against the sea, evoking a primal struggle found in the collective unconscious. Consider the cliff as a symbol. Throughout history, cliffs have appeared as a site of refuge, and of death. From the ancient Greek myths of Leucata to the cliffs of Dover during World War II, these natural formations echo human drama. Even the sea, with its ceaseless waves, mirrors life’s impermanence. The Romantic painters, such as Caspar David Friedrich, employed such scenery to evoke feelings of awe and sublime terror. Talmage taps into this emotional undercurrent, reminding us that, despite our transient existence, the natural world endures, forever shaping our collective memory.