Károly Kisfaludy, renowned poet and playwright, as well as landscapist, is generally credited for the early breakthrough of Romanticism in Hungarian art. Storms, the raging of the elements - like in the case of Maritime Peril - was a favourite motif of his landscapes. Such themes gave the artist a chance to emphasize the dramatic contrast between light and dark, turbulence and calm. Although Kisfaludy attended the Viennese Academy for a while, and also worked in Italy, his literary activities prevented him from paying more attention to improving his painting technique. Therefore, a certain degree of naiveté can be seen in his emotionally highly-charged paintings and drawings.
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