Pierre-Auguste Cot’s The Storm captures a whirlwind of youthful passion and cinematic movement in this celebrated Romantic masterpiece. A young couple flees through a shadowy forest, the male figure protectively holding his companion as her gossamer gown and a golden cloak billow dramatically in the tempestuous wind. The dynamic composition and sensuous rendering of light and texture heighten the scene’s emotional urgency. Cot deftly balances classical idealism with Romantic fervor, making this more than a flight from weather—it is a symbol of love’s impetuous courage against nature’s unpredictability.