Boats on Water

Many paintings throughout history and in our present day have depicted a scene of boats on water. This artistic subject is so often presented in paintings simply because of the beauty of the scene and a common fascination with water. However, by comparing various paintings of this subject by different artists, one is able to see the deliberate style and composition of each painting that leads the viewer to understand a greater meaning and purpose behind the painting.

For example, Lyonel Feininger's painting of a boat, called "Ostsee-Schoener", is pictured below. The first thing one notices when observing Feininger's painting is the boat in the foreground painted in a cubist style. This style of combining simple straight-edged forms to depict a well-known image is a creative take on the common subject. The way the hard edges of the sails of the boat and the rock fade into the background indicates the presence of fog. The cubist style of the sails also shows the way light and shadows are created in this scene. There is not a large color contrast between the light and shadowy areas of the painting, therefore the viewer knows it is not bright, further proving the presence of fog in the scene. The viewer also knows that it is not stormy, because the angles of the shapes in the water formed with the horizon line are acute, meaning that the waves are mostly flat. Lastly, the mostly grey color palette unites the different parts of the painting, creating a cohesive mood. These three main details in Feninger's painting make the viewer feel calm, or even melancholy as the lone boat floats on the grey-green water surrounded by a grey sky. Feninger may have wanted the viewers of this painting to feel the ominous nature of a boat floating along in a indistinct environment.

"Ostsee-Schoner", 1924, Lyonel Feninger

In comparison, Claude Monet's painting pictured below, called the "Evening Effect", has a similar, yet different mood associated with the painting. The impressionist style leads the viewer to notice the lightness of the brushstrokes in both the sky and the water. The flat lines in the water which fluidly meet the horizon, suggesting an even stiller body of water than in Feninger's painting. The flat and undistorted reflection of the boat in the water also signifies the calmness of the water. The yellows and pinks in the sky indicate that the time of day may either be sunrise or sunset, and the swirly texture in the sky shows the presence of some clouds. The clear lines of the boat against the very fluid background, makes the boat stand out as the main subject of the painting. All of these aspects of Monet's painting create a serene mood, rather than a melancholy mood like in Feninger's painting. Monet wanted the viewers of this painting to feel tranquil and peaceful.

"Evening Effect", 1885, Claude Monet

Monet's and Feninger's differing artistic styles are able to portray contrasting moods when painting this common subject. The two paintings both show a unique take on the "boat on water" subject and are both beautiful for their ability to influence the viewer's feelings.