Frozen Bosphorus Under Snow 1874

"Frozen Bosphorus Under Snow" (1874) by Ivan Aivazovsky, a renowned Russian seascape painter, depicts a ship frozen in the Bosphorus Strait, its masts silhouetted against a soft, muted sky. This painting showcases Aivazovsky's mastery of capturing the dramatic interplay of light and shadow, a defining element of his style. The frozen seascape, a stark contrast to the vibrant colors of his earlier works, emphasizes the serenity and stillness of the scene. The distant figures on the ice add a sense of scale and loneliness, while the wooden fence in the foreground anchors the viewer to the scene. Today, this work is housed in the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey.