“Creation of the World” is an artwork by Ivan Aivazovsky, completed in the year 1864. This Romanticism genre painting is a marina, that measures 196 by 233 centimeters. The artwork showcases Aivazovsky’s mastery in depicting maritime scenes, resonating deeply with the emotional and dramatic nuances characteristic of the Romantic era.
The artwork vividly illustrates a celestial scene, where the interplay of light and shadow evokes the nascent moments of the creation of the world. A luminous burst of light dominates the upper portion, piercing through an expanse of brooding, tumultuous clouds. These clouds, voluminous and dense, cascade down to a dark and tempestuous ocean, whose waves reflect the ethereal glow above. The stark contrast between the golden illumination and the dark, almost fiery depths, signifies the chaos and beauty inherent in the act of creation. Through this painting, Aivazovsky not only captures the sublime power of nature but also invokes a sense of awe and reverence for the elemental forces at play in the birth of the world.
