작품 상세

Andreas Achenbach established himself as "Master of land and sea" as described by Wolfgang Müller von Königswinter in his "Letter on Art History" in 1854, with his spectacular stormy seascapes of the 40s. These dramatic portrayals of the powerful forces of nature were, from the 40s, increasingly replaced by less dramatic Dutch and Belgian harbour and beach scenes. In these paintings, including this work dated 1863, the truthful depiction of reality is combined with a strong emphasis on the rendering of atmosphere. The composition of this painting extends out towards the sea, in the centre a fishing boat is depicted, awaited by the fisherman's wife on the shore. The relaxed posture of the woman with her pitcher and basket and the shoreline which extends along the bottom of the painting somewhat shields the viewer from the juxtaposed rough sea with the fisherman. The atmosphere of the sky is equally contrasting; the dark, heavy clouds and the bright warmth of the setting sun. Together with his younger brother Oswald, Andreas Achenbach belongs to some of the most coveted and influential German painters of the second half of the 19th century.