In the middle of the sea, a fishing sailboat is depicted sailing in a turbulent sea with wind-whipped waves, as seagulls fly around it. A sailor is depicted at the bow under the open sails, while five other fisherman are sitting on the sides of the deck. An imposing rocky massif is formed in the distance on the left, and a steamship is visible far away on the right. The surrounding atmosphere is imposing, and a sense of awe is created at the sight of it. The gloomy, overcast sky dominates the scene, while the intensely dark sea, with the constant colour changes of blue, green and emerald hues, evokes feelings of fear and anxiety. Everything has been painted with great care; the different clothing of the fishermen, the sails, the sailcloth and all the rigging.
Marilena Z. Kassimati (curator), Constantinos Volanakis: Poet of the Sea, exhibition catalogue, Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, Hellenic Maritime Museum, Athens 2009, pp. 142, 184 (“Fishing boat on choppy waters”, n.d.).
Takis Mavrotas (curator), Constantinos Volanakis: The Father of Greek Seascape Painting, exhibition catalogue, B&M Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts, Athens 2018, p. 102.
Thodoris Koutsogiannis (curator), Constantinos Volanakis: Nostos of the Sea. Artworks from the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation collection, exhibition catalogue, Municipal Art Gallery of Chania, pp. 134-135.
Sotheby’s / London, The Greek Sale, 11/11/2008.