The artwork titled “Calm and Free (Maine Coast),” created by Rockwell Kent in 1909, belongs to the American Realism movement. Capturing the genre of landscape and cloudscape, this piece is housed in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The artwork presents a tranquil seascape at sunset, with the sun hanging low in the sky, casting a serene golden glow over the horizon. The reflected sunlight creates a shimmering path across the calm waters, enhancing the sense of peace and tranquility. The foreground consists of a rocky coast, depicted in deep, rich tones, contrasting with the radiant light above the horizon. Subtle silhouettes of distant figures on the coast add a delicate human element to the expansive natural scene, emphasizing the scale and majesty of the impending sunset. The careful blending of light and shadow demonstrates Kent’s mastery in evoking mood and capturing the sublime beauty of the Maine coast.
