Artist Ivan Aivazovsky was born in the town of Feodosia, Tauride province. He showed a talent and craving for art from an early age. Aivazovsky was educated at Petersburg Academy of Arts, where he joined a landscape class. Upon graduation from the Academy, he was awarded a trip to Europe for his brilliant studies.

The artist’s carrier was highly successful. His seascapes were very popular with the public. The artist is credited with creating more than 6,000 canvases over his long life. He visited many countries, traveled to the shores of Asia Minor, went to the Caucasus. He continued working during his trips and studied light effects and the nature of the sea, when on sea voyages.

When Aivazovsky was already a renowned master with many lucrative job offers coming his way, he chose to leave the capital city of Petersburg and returned to Crimea. He wanted to live by the sea in Feodosia, spend time at its sunlit beaches, walk through its lanes. It was very rare that Aivazovsky painted his landscapes from nature, most of them were created in the quiet of his studio. He worked from sketches and had a phenomenal visual memory. 

In his twilight years, at the age of 75, Aivazovsky took a trip to America, which was the greatest journey of his life. In 1892, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean on board a ship. They were caught in a furious storm on the way and the ship was tossed about by the waves. Most passengers did not venture to come out onto the deck, but the artist watched the raging nature with interest.

Aivazovsky created his Ocean at a ripe old age, a few years before his death. He painted it being under the impression of crossing the ocean during his trip to America. The later period of Aivazovsky’s oeuvre was dominated by storm and shipwreck themes. The painting depicts an impressive spectacle of raging waves pummeling the ship deck. People are crowded on the deck, their figures seem small and insignificant against the background of the dangerous force of nature.