The Vertical Sea

Painted in 2009, Vertical Sea is a representative work of Jamil Molaeb's seascape oeuvre. Displaying a gradual transition from one tone of blue to another, the work skillfully explores the nuances of colour and light. On the lower right side of the canvas, a small boat is floating on the surface of the water acting as a key in bridging between figuration and abstraction. A sense of harmony and quietness is enhanced by the absence of figures, redirecting the attention of the viewer towards the balance and unity of the composition. The sea and the sky blend silently at the horizon, playing with the different layers of depth.

Born in 1948 in Baysour, a village in Mount Lebanon's Aley District, Jamil Molaeb studied art in Beirut, Algeria, and the United States. During his travels, which served in stark comparison to his predominantly rustic childhood, he recognised the need to sidestep from the influence of Western art movements, electing instead to channel his energies into his indigenous heritage.