The Sea View of Cliffs 

Rose O'Neill created this oil on canvas work, "The Sea View of Cliffs", sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The image captures the raw energy of the sea, waves crashing against a rocky cliffside. O'Neill was also known for her illustration and cartoon work, and her paintings, like this one, show an awareness of the artistic conventions of her time. She engages with the tradition of landscape painting, which often served to express national identity or to celebrate the sublime power of nature. "The Sea View of Cliffs," can be seen as a commentary on the changing relationship between humans and nature in an era of rapid industrialization. Does this scene of untamed wilderness stand as a critique of the increasing encroachment of urban life? How does it reflect the cultural anxieties and aspirations of its time? To understand this work fully, we can turn to studies of American art history, cultural geography, and gender studies, offering insight into the complex meanings embedded within O'Neill's brushstrokes.