Hans Wilt, who studied from 1886 to 1891 at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, spent the subsequent 1893 and 1894 in Rome as a fellow of the Vienna Academy. Here he became aware of the artist Arnold Böcklin and his symbolist landscapes.

Wilt's work entitled "Surf on the Dalmatian coast" goes far beyonf Symbolism is through the naturalistic representation of an ocean surf. The unfathomable, appearing in many shades of blue, green and turquoise water always comes back against the steep rocky coast, the whitecaps contrast with the dark night sky. The upper end of the rock appears to be fixed and a cypress grove appears on the plateau. Hans Wilt creates an atmosphere of solemn grandeur that evokes the feelin...