Sailing Boats - Alfred Wallis

A raw, modernist marine study by Alfred Wallis, depicting two sailing vessels navigating turbulent waters in his signature intuitive style.

Alfred Wallis, a former Cornish fisherman and scrap merchant, began painting in his late sixties following the death of his wife. Without formal training, he utilised whatever materials were available, often painting on salvaged cardboard boxes or scraps of wood. His approach to composition ignores traditional perspective, favouring a flattened, intuitive arrangement that prioritises the memory of the subject over optical realism.

In this work, two sailing vessels navigate a turbulent sea. The ships are rendered with simplified forms, their dark sails contrasting against the white, impasto-heavy waves. Wallis applied his paint directly, often using his fingers or a small brush, which results in a tactile surface. The horizon line is absent, and the water occupies the majority of the frame, creating a sense of isolation and movement. His palette is restricted, relying on monochromatic tones of black, white, and grey to convey the harsh conditions of the Atlantic coast.

Wallis was discovered by Ben Nicholson and Christopher Wood in 1928, who recognised the authenticity in his direct, unmediated style. His work influenced the St Ives group of artists, who admired his ability to capture the essence of maritime life without the constraints of academic convention. This print captures the raw, honest quality of his original cardboard paintings, preserving the texture and the immediate, urgent application of pigment that defines his output. It is a direct representation of the Cornish seafaring life that Wallis knew intimately from his years working on the water.