Sea at night 

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky painted this 'Sea at Night' using oil on canvas. The muted colour palette and textured brushstrokes create a dreamlike atmosphere, evocative of a moonlit seascape. Aivazovsky masterfully plays with light and shadow to build the composition. Observe how the moon, shrouded in clouds, casts a path of light on the water, drawing the eye towards the horizon. This use of light is not merely representational; it is a structural element that organizes the space and creates a sense of depth. The human figures and ships are dwarfed by the immensity of the sea. The painting explores themes of the sublime and humanity's relationship with nature through its structured use of form. The painting's formal qualities—its colour, composition, and scale—contribute to a meditation on the power and mystery of the sea. The way that Aivazovsky manipulates light and form invites ongoing interpretation.