Tempest Off A Mountainous Coast 2017

Kehinde Wiley created this painting, *Tempest Off A Mountainous Coast*, with oil paints and a certain drama. I can feel the artist's hand trying to capture the tumultuousness of the water as these huge waves threaten to swallow the tiny boat. It’s interesting to think about the painting process. Was Wiley wrestling with the canvas like the figure in the boat wrestles with the sea? I imagine Wiley, brush in hand, layering those deep blues and greens, building up a sense of foreboding with those dark, heavy clouds. There's a tension in the thick paint as it mimics the wildness of the sea. The artist's intention feels so palpable; you can see the urgency in the brushstrokes. This piece reminds me of other painters who have tried to capture the sublime power of nature, like Turner or Courbet. Artists are always in conversation with each other, you know, riffing on themes, pushing boundaries. This painting is a part of that ongoing dialogue. It doesn’t give you all the answers; it stirs something inside you and leaves you with more questions.