Artwork
Out to Sea
Out to Sea is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Jonas Lie. It dates from 1924 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1924, *Out to Sea* is an oil painting by Jonas Lie, a Norwegian‑born artist who spent much of his career in the United States. The work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies the American Impressionist tendency toward atmospheric, light‑filled scenes.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas depicts a tranquil, deep‑blue sea populated by three modest sailboats whose tall masts suggest a gentle departure from the shore. A faint horizon separates the water from a pale sky, while low, rocky hills outline the coastline, conveying a sense of quiet distance and the subtle motion of a calm evening.
Technique & Style
Lie employs a thick, impasto application of paint that gives the water a textured, choppy surface. Dominated by cool blues and muted grays, the palette is punctuated by a faint glimmer of light near the horizon. The brushwork is vigorous yet controlled, reflecting the artist’s Expressionist roots within an Impressionist framework.
History & Provenance
Jonas Lie, known for his coastal and urban scenes as well as his documentation of the Panama Canal, produced this work during a period when he was active in American art circles. *Out to Sea* entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings after being acquired from a private collection, where it remained largely unseen until recent exhibitions highlighted Lie’s contribution to early 20th‑century American painting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jonas Lie (April 29, 1880 – January 18, 1940) was a Norwegian-born American painter and teacher.
