Aquarelle-Sea with Light Purple Cloud

Nolde was one of the founding Expressionists, and his exploration of colour as a source of emotion is evident in this vivid seascape. Although the lines between them are blurred by the natural spreading of his watercolour paint, the scene is split into sea and sky. Three deep purple clouds float in the sky dominating the composition. A bright yellow is used along the border of sea and sky, and the light of the setting sun bursts behind the clouds, contrasting the purple with a flash of yellow. The sea itself is completed in a combination of deep teals and blues. The close proximity and blending of these three distinct colours – deep blue, vibrant yellow, and a royal purple – are hugely stimulating to the viewer. In the right-hand corner of the scene, a single boat is seen all in black. The isolation and small size of this boat emphasises the enormity and awe-inspiring beauty and power of the natural scene in which it is guest.