The violence of the sea and its power over man in Thomas Moran’s "The Resounding Sea" is compositionally reminiscent of J.M.W. Turner’s "The Slave Ship," which preceded Moran’s piece by only 46 years. However, while one underscores the cruelty endemic to the “peculiar institution,” the other is a testament to the artist’s appreciation for nature, combined with his fear of God. Since Moran was a member of the Rocky Mountain School, this etching also represents a break from his usual focus on the American landscape. At the same time, it portrays Moran’s fascination with the sheer power and destructiveness of the elements.

David Kuhio Ahia, PO ’18

Pencil signed. The number, 19, appears in the upper lefthand corner.

ink on paper - etching

Seascape: in the foreground, the ocean roils under heavily stormy skies. On the left, background, the top of a ship's mast is just visible. To the right of the mast, in the background, a filled lifeboat plunges down into the waves.

This object has the following keywords:

• 19th century
• Etchings
• Lakes and Rivers

This object is a member of the following portfolios: