Neptune

Deep blues and shadowy greys drift across this canvas in soft, overlapping layers, blurring the line between a brooding sky and a churning sea. Catherine de Potter created this abstract work in 2010 and named it for Neptune, the Roman god who ruled the oceans. The title suits the mood perfectly. No waves or figures appear anywhere, yet the painting somehow captures water in all its moods, from still and heavy depths to drifting, swirling haze. Near the middle, a faint warm glow pushes through the darkness, like a far-off light struggling to break past thick clouds.

Belonging to the tradition of abstract art, this piece cares more about feeling and atmosphere than about anything you can name or point to. De Potter works through texture and shifting tone, letting her colors seep into one another so your gaze never quite settles. Some people spot a night sky dusted with faint stars, while others sense the dim underwater world where sunlight fades away. Rather than telling you what to see, the painting leaves the choice open, asking you to imagine for yourself what Neptune's kingdom might truly look like.