Ocean Cliffs and Breaking Waves

Ocean Cliffs (1881) by Edward Mitchell Bannister confronts a dark, angular rock face with foaming blue-green waves. Water breaks against its base and sweeps diagonally across the foreground, while a narrow horizon appears to the left. The heavy sky echoes the cool colours of the sea. Broad handling of rock and surf gives this coastal view a weight and movement absent from his calmer river scenes.