The painting Narcisse Davim La Vague (2010) is an acrylic on canvas that measures 46 x 61 cm. This work shows a shirtless sailor leaning against the deck of a ship. His calm gaze and relaxed pose set a confident tone. The white sailor’s cap carries Davim’s signature, turning the figure into both subject and author’s mark. From the very first look, La Vague highlights the connection between the human body and the sea.
The sailor and the wave
The most striking element in Narcisse Davim La Vague is the large wave painted on the sailor’s chest. This detail recalls Hokusai’s “Great Wave off Kanagawa”, but with a contemporary and graphic style. The wave seems like both a tattoo and a symbol. It suggests that the sailor carries the ocean’s force inside him. Strong blue tones, pure whites, and warm skin colors give the painting a pop-art feel. Bold outlines and flat surfaces remind us of comic illustrations and poster art.
Artistic influences and meaning
Davim’s sailor in La Vague connects with a long tradition of maritime and homoerotic imagery. Like the figures in the work of Tom of Finland, the body here represents strength, freedom, and desire. Yet Davim uses stylization instead of explicit provocation. The result is an archetype: a sailor as modern hero, myth, and icon.
The influence of Japanese art is also clear. Just as Hokusai turned the wave into a universal symbol, Davim places that power within the human body. Similar themes can be found in Jean Cocteau’s drawings and in Herbert List’s photography, both of which celebrated the sailor as poetic and erotic.
Legacy of La Vague
By combining maritime symbols, pop-art aesthetics, and homoerotic undertones, Narcisse Davim La Vague stands out as a vibrant, contemporary reinterpretation of classic themes. The painting shows how the sea, identity, and desire can merge into a single powerful image.
