The Ninth Wave

The Ninth Wave by Ivan Aivazovsky

Media: Oil Painting

Dimensions: 7’3” x 10’11”

Created: 1850

• Ivan Aivazovsky was born in Russia in 1817. He is a well traveled man, who learned much of artistic abilities throughout his travels to many different countries. He is considered one of the greatest marine artists in history.

• “It depicts a sea after a night storm and people facing death attempting to save themselves by clinging to debris from a wrecked ship.” – Unknown

• This painting is one of Ivan’s most famous pieces of work that was created in 1850. The title of this piece was chosen because it refers to the nautical tradition that waves grow larger in a series up to the biggest one, which is the ninth wave.

• I chose The Ninth Wave, not because it is particularly a happy painting. I chose it because sometimes you have to dig deep in order to find the happiness within. In this photo, the sun represents hope for the future. These men are struggling to survive, but seeing the sun makes them hope for the storm to pass. Life won’t always be happy and easy, but if we continue to search for the happiness in every situation we are thrown into, it can be a beautiful thing.