The description of The Ninth Wave

The composition of warm pastel colours of a wonderful sunrise behind high sea waves is absolutely out of this world. The merciless pounding of the elements is brilliantly conveyed as the waves roll, rise up and crash down with full force, having revealed for a moment the deep chasm below. As far as waves seem to be closer one can notice a group of shipwrecked survivors which is about to be engulfed by an enormous wave. The restless movement of clouds, sound of crashing waves and sprays of foam strengthen the impression of a raging hurricane. Despite this the people clinging to a broken mast still struggle for life — the sun has just risen and its rays pierce the watery chaos, increasing just a little their chance of survival. The essential tragedy of the scene is outweighed by the vividness of the impression it makes: the spectator understands the horror of the storm but his feelings are won over by its beauty.