Edward Hopper’s “Rocks and Sea” is an oil painting on wood, dating from around 1916 to 1919, that falls within the Impressionism movement. This landscape artwork measures 29.8 x 40.8 cm and is housed in the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork depicts a coastal scene focusing on the interplay between land and water. In the foreground, rugged rocks are captured with broad, gestural brushstrokes that emphasize their solid and weathered surfaces. The colors used for the rocks are earthy and varied, suggesting a play of light and shadow that lends depth and dimension to the scene. The background features a broad expanse of the sea, rendered in a deep blue that contrasts sharply with the rocky shore, bringing a sense of calm vastness to the image. The sea meets a clear sky at the horizon line, and the simplicity of this interface draws attention to the natural beauty of the unadorned seascape. Despite the rough texture of the rocks, there is a certain serenity in the composition, reflective of Hopper’s ability to capture the mood of a place. The painting conveys a moment of stillness and natural harmony, characteristic of Hopper’s approach to landscape, even as it embodies Impressionist techniques.