The Sea Near Christiansø

About this work

This painting shows a rough sea with crashing waves in the foreground. In the distance, there are a few small houses with sloped roofs, some with chimneys. The colors are mostly dark blues and grays for the water, with patches of white foam. The land has muted browns, reds, and yellows, and the brushstrokes look thick and uneven. The artist used a lot of paint in some spots, making the texture almost bumpy. This technique is called *impasto*—where paint is laid on thickly so you can almost feel the strokes. Check out the *impasto* technique to see how other artists used thick paint.