Mouth of the Humber 

Hercules Brabazon Brabazon created this watercolour, 'Mouth of the Humber', with an expressive layering of translucent washes. The overall effect is atmospheric, evoking a sense of the sublime. The composition is dominated by broad, horizontal sweeps of colour that define the sea and sky. Brabazon uses loose brushstrokes to suggest the turbulent movement of the water and the ominous presence of the storm clouds above. Notice how the artist blurs the distinction between the sea and the sky by mirroring the darker tones of the clouds in the waves below. This gives the image a feeling of instability. The formal structure of the painting—with its emphasis on gestural mark-making and tonal harmony—moves towards abstraction. Here, Brabazon seems less interested in the literal depiction of the scene. Instead he focuses on the emotional impact of the dramatic weather conditions. The visible brushwork acts as a reminder of the artist's physical engagement with the medium and its ability to convey both the beauty and the terror of nature.