Ground Swell

The Corcoran Gallery of Art (the USA).

Canvas, oil.

The artist who grew up in Nyack on the Hudson River studied and built boat models in childhood. His passion for seascapes and marine subjects had been noted throughout his career. However, like many of his “land” works, this picture goes far beyond the scope of the seascape. Hopper depicted a boat with four young men and a woman who are experiencing a moment of collision with a growing wave. Although it is a clear day, a dark bell-shaped buoy symbolizes impending doom. This is conveyed by the dramatic tilt of a small sailing ship. The artist painted a picture at a time when war broke out in Europe. Art critics assume that the near death of the boat is symbolic and portends worries about an uncertain and sinister future.