Paintings of boats might evoke memories of seafaring adventures, serene fishing excursions on tranquil lakes, or the universal human need for exploration and adventure. 

Ships also have significant symbolic meanings. They might be seen as metaphors for the artist's journey through the waves of hardship. They may also symbolize a person's resolve or desire to steer their course through life despite the roiling seas and the risk of getting lost.

The most renowned and prolific boat artists include Eugène-Louis Boudin (French, 1824 -1898), Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovsky (Russian, 1817 -1900), Willem van de Velde the Younger (Dutch, 1633 -1707), James E. Buttersworth (American, 1817 -1894), Joseph Mallord William Turner (British, 1775 -1851), Claude Monet (French, 1840 -1926), Paul Signac (French, 1863 -1935), Peter Monamy (British, 1689 -1749), John Singer Sargent (American, 1856 -1925), Alexei Bogoliubov (Russian, 1824 -1896), among others.