The Wrath Of The Sea God 

Herbert James Draper created 'The Wrath of the Sea God' using oil paints on canvas. Traditional art materials, certainly, but they're put to very particular use here. Look closely and you can see how Draper uses thick impasto to render the churning sea and the cresting waves, the paint applied with visible brushstrokes. This not only captures the texture and movement of the water but also conveys its raw power and the peril faced by the ship's crew. The figures are modeled with smooth, almost sculptural brushwork. The artist’s decision to depict this mythological scene with such physicality connects the work to the broader social context of the late 19th century. The focus on labor, the bodies of the oarsmen, and the implied struggle against a powerful force can be seen as a reflection on the human condition in an era defined by industrialization and social change. Paying attention to Draper’s painterly approach, we move beyond traditional art history, connecting high art with the realities of labor, struggle, and the sheer force of nature.