A Storm over Cannes 

Winston Churchill likely made this oil painting, A Storm over Cannes, sometime in the mid-20th century. It’s a study in atmosphere, yes, but also a window into the leisure activities of the British elite. Churchill’s landscapes are typically understood as a hobby, an escape from the pressures of political life. But, his turn to painting also speaks to broader social and institutional histories. A prominent figure in the British aristocracy, Churchill's artistic pursuits reflect the cultural capital afforded to the upper classes. Painting was, for him, a means of self-expression, separate from the formal structures of politics. To understand this work more fully, we might look to correspondence between Churchill and his contemporaries, as well as studies of British aristocratic culture and the history of amateur art production in the 20th century. Understanding the social and institutional contexts of art, we see how seemingly personal expressions connect to broader patterns of power and privilege.