Seascapes

 On view September 2, 2022 - January 14, 2024

Experience traditional marine art, from its origins in the Netherlands, to the growth in popularity of marine art in England, to America’s infatuation with the subject matter. Seascapes features work from the collection of the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. This exhibition includes examples of how other cultures depicted the popular European and American subject of marine art, such as 19th century Chinese adaptations of the genre. Also on display are paintings depicting naval and merchant ships, voyages of exploration, recreational sailing craft, seascapes, harbor scenes, and historic artifacts. 

While the words “marine art” are in the name of this museum, MMAM does not always display the genre in its most commonly defined form, most often focusing on works from a wide range of artists and artwork across cultures that explore the overarching theme of “great art inspired by water.” This exhibition invites visitors to make comparisons and connections between traditionally defined marine art to the expanded and redefined definition of that theme found throughout the rest of the museum.