Marina Piccola, Capri c. 1858

William Stanley Haseltine created this painting, Marina Piccola, Capri, using oil on fabric. The eye is immediately drawn to the geometric interplay between the man-made structures and the natural rock formations. The painting is dominated by horizontal lines—the shoreline, the horizon, and the arrangement of boats—which provide a sense of stability. Haseltine has carefully positioned the boats in the foreground, drawing a clear line between the industrial aspects of life and the untouched beauty of the sea. This invites us to consider the relationship between human activity and nature itself. The archway in the rocks, a natural frame, destabilizes traditional landscape views. Note the contrasting textures: the rough, earthy tones of the buildings and boats against the smooth, reflective surface of the water. Haseltine plays with our perceptions, blurring the lines between what is solid and what is fluid. This intersection challenges the conventional understanding of space and form.