5.5: Example Description Essay

The following is a student example paper for an art class that incorporates the mode of Description. As you read through the example, pay close attention to the author's use of description, and then answer or discuss the questions at the end of the essay.

Elsie Miller

ART 101 Art Appreciation

Professor James Thompson

21 February 2021

Dramatic Movement in Rembrandt’s

The Storm on the Sea of Galilee

Do you remember your first super crush when your friends were just dying to go to their first concert? When my friends were absolutely begging their parents to let them go see Billie Ellish, Justin Timberlake, or One Direction when they went on vacation to New York City or Boston, I was begging to visit museums and spend time with Rembrandt. When my graduation gift was a trip to Europe, I planned the entire itinerary around . . . wait for it . . . chiaroscuro. In art chiaroscuro is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. It is also a technical term used by artists for the use of contrasts of light to achieve a sense of volume in modelling threedimensional objects and figures. It originated in oils during the High Renaissance but I loved the work of Rembrandt, particularly in his Biblical scenes. One, in particular, has always been a subject of particular interest to art historians. Rembrandt’s 1633, The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, is his only seascape and is legendary not only for the lighting, but for his message of hope for man, which was the theme of the turbulent and chaotic seascape. As well, much emphasis and scholarly attention has been placed upon his depiction of the portraiture of the fourteen men in the boat, including his self-portrait as he places himself next to Christ. Rembrandt’s Biblical studies and portrayals were a central topic of his work and his religion was a central part of his life despite the fact that at times, his popularity waned as other artists moved away to more secular depictions.

Rembrandt’s legendary use of light and dark in this seascape bring this work alive in ways that keep his name at the forefront of the Dutch Golden Age of the art world. This painting’s color palette begins with black on the far right side of the canvas and the sky is so dark and foreboding that the twelve disciples must have felt there was no hope or chance of survival as the winds whipped the small boat to and fro in the raging storm. One of the men is attempting to fight the sails and is climbing the mast and can hardly begin to hold on to what seems to be at least a 3’ wide mast. The utter terror on each of their faces tells the entire story of life on this earth; the storms are sometimes more than is bearable. The ship is tipping into the sea and filling with water, the skies are dark and foreboding; to whom can we turn but to ourselves?

The sheer beauty of this dark and horrific battle as these men courageously fight against impending death is so majestically depicted by Rembrandt that I could imagine sitting in a gallery and watching sections of this descriptive story hour after hour. This vertical oil painting stands vertically 62.99 in. × 50.39 in. in all its resplendent glory and its brilliant hues range from iridescent azure to golden raisin. It is truly a living spectacle that art historians long to recapture from the hands of the thieves and it is valued at over $100 million. How ironic that the theft itself is a part of the human battle against good and evil that Rembrandt depicts attempts to convey in his imagery: it is little wonder that his only seascape has drawn world attention and renown. In our human darkness, we battle against ourselves, alone, with sweat, with tears, longing, desire, and fear, in the darkness.

The faces of the men in the boat show Rembrandt’s mastery as much as the darkness highlights man’s misery and toil. This storm is of such high proportion that the men in the boat are sure to perish and their faces illustrate the terror of this reality. Rembrandt has created an individual portrait of each man and we see each man’s individual battle written on his face; Paul’s reaction is different than John’s or Philip’s or Judas’ as they react to storm that rages around him. Of course, we do not know their names but we begin to know the man as we search his face and realize he is “us;” we have each felt alone, afraid, and incapable of facing our own storms in life. This is art and this is Rembrandt’s gift.

One man looks to the darkness and gives up the fight and seems to just collapse on the deck. Another fights the storm alone on the deck, battling the wind and the sails for all his might. Rembrandt, as in life, steals close to Christ in humility, seeking His grace and safety from the storms of life. His sneakiness of inserting his own image into his art is never self-centered. Although Rembrandt was noted for inserting himself into his work, but in doing so he maintained a dignity and humility throughout the process. There simply isn’t another master like him, before or since when we consider that his Biblical studies during this time period caused him to fall from grace with patrons of the arts and he continued to prevail and depict Biblical scenes anyway

This is not a simple fishing boat that holds a fisherman or two; this is a ship worthy of a crew of 30- 50. Rembrandt’s work is almost always larger than life in his depictions and this story is certainly up to the task at hand. We have waves as formidable as those that will sink the Titanic in another era. There are sailors heaving over the side of vessel holding on for dear life and the terror in their eyes is awe inspiring. It is no wonder they are scrambling for the master. One of Rembrandt’s greatest contributions to the artworld was his portraiture and this painting is a vivid example of his craftmanship. The terror and the emotion on the faces of the disciples shows both their fear and their simultaneous trust in their Lord and master as they seek his help. The light on the left hand side of the painting dawns and the storm begins to subside.

This is the ultimate message that Rembrandt’s work conveys and the theme of this seascape painting: turn to Christ and cling to the savior. As He calms the sea, the light will break through the clouds and the rough waters will subside. Rembrandt’s use of light, pale azure blue, gold, and yellow to break through the black skies is a trademark palette of this master and his use of the “golden triangle of light” or chiaroscuro is masterful as we see its use in the sky rather than in a portrait where it is most commonly used. As Rembrandt applies the layers of color from whites to blue to yellow, the palette has both depth and a three dimensional depth that once again mimics life’s myriad and complexity of emotions. Yet, he remains subtle and avoids the melodrama we often saw in the Renaissance: there are no angels bursting through the clouds or cherubs with arrows to create a celestial feeling. No, the master remains firmly rooted on earth and one can imagine things going rapidly back to normal. The men breathing a sigh of relief, picking up their nets, and going about their work; Christ going back to sleep and resting until he is once again called upon to calms the stormy seas. So, this is Rembrandt at his finest. The singular seascape with men at work, Christ ever present, and life as it truly was for him: a series of ups and downs. He was acceptant of his world and his gifts and he used the gifts he was given, never asking for more than he deserved. He lived his life studying, observing and growing; that was enough for him and he was a grateful servant. I believe he would be quite surprise at his fame in the 21st Century.