The Wave 1895

Nathaniel Hone the Younger painted The Wave, rendering in oil an impressive natural scene. Born in Dublin, Hone was part of a generation of artists who looked outward, often traveling to France to deepen their engagement with contemporary trends. Here, the muted palette and focus on capturing a fleeting moment places Hone firmly in the lineage of the Impressionists. But the Wave cannot be understood in purely formal terms, and a closer inspection reveals a scene of environmental interest. Here the ocean's rough beauty is observed from a shoreline littered with refuse. Are those sheep or are they trash? Are those birds enjoying nature or trying to survive in the wastelands? As art historians, our task is to examine these questions, using both visual analysis and historical research, to better understand the complex relationship between this painting, its creator, and the social and environmental context in which it was made.