After the Storm

A violent storm has brought a ship off course, smashing it onto the rocks. But perhaps the rocks are also its salvation, embedding it on firm ground. Friedrich grew up in Greifswald near the Baltic Sea, and he visited the nearby island of Rügen all his life. Here he observed the sky and sea in all weathers, and ships at sea was a recurring theme in his art, often symbolising the journey of life. Perhaps this scene shows the firm bedrock of faith saving the ship. The dramatic, finely nuanced depiction of the stormy sky testifies to how Friedrich, like many other European painters, was keenly interested in exploring cloud formations in various weather and lighting conditions. He has very carefully portrayed the sunlight piercing the clouds and details such as the gulls, the partially broken mast, the fluttering ropes and the rain falling out at sea.