Artwork
În apropierea furtunii
În apropierea furtunii is an unspecified painting by Carol Szathmari. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Bucharest Municipality Museum.
About this work
Overview
“În apropierea furtunii,” executed around 1850 by Carol Szathmari, is a modestly sized oil painting in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work depicts a solitary vessel navigating turbulent waters beneath a fragmented sky, rendered in a restrained palette of grays, browns and muted blues. Its compact format and weathered surface suggest frequent handling over time.
Subject & Meaning
The central motif is a dark‑hued ship confronting rough seas, a visual metaphor for human perseverance amid uncertainty. The fragmented, light‑spotted clouds and the churning water convey a moment of impending storm, emphasizing the tension between the fragile craft and the overwhelming forces of nature.
Technique & Style
Szathmari employs a thin application of paint, allowing the canvas texture to remain visible and giving the surface a slightly worn appearance. The limited color range and subdued tonal values create a somber atmosphere, while the loose brushwork on the waves suggests movement without detailed rendering.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1850, the painting entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it has been preserved as part of the institution’s representation of 19th‑century Romanian visual culture. Its provenance prior to museum acquisition remains undocumented in available records.
Context
The work belongs to a period when Szathmari, known for his early photographic endeavors, also produced small‑scale genre scenes. The maritime subject aligns with mid‑19th‑century European interests in depicting the sublime power of nature and the resilience of human endeavor at sea.
Artist & collection
Artist
Carol Szathmari made paintings and one sculpture in the mid-1800s, mostly portraits and scenes from everyday life.
