Waves 

James Campbell Noble created this oil painting, called "Waves," at the turn of the 20th century. Its monochromatic tones might suggest the shifting social landscape of his native Scotland and the wider British isles. The painting’s subject calls to mind the rise of industrialisation, in which the sea plays a prominent role in trade and the transportation of goods. Likewise, we can see, in its rough and gestural brushstrokes, the influence of the impressionist style, imported from France. We know that Noble studied painting in Paris with Thomas Couture, and that he was greatly influenced by Whistler. Although the painting itself doesn’t seem overtly political, we should consider the cultural institutions that shape artistic production and reception. Archival research into the artist’s relationship with dealers and galleries can yield valuable insights into the painting’s historical meaning. Art, after all, doesn’t exist in a vacuum; its meaning is contingent on social and institutional contexts.