An underwater explosion, possibly  a mine or early depth-charge<br>
A study perhaps made from a mine being detonated, or firing of an early depth-charge about 1916. It could also have been made from a photograph of one.
<bdi><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:William_Lionel_Wyllie" class="extiw" title="w:en:William Lionel Wyllie"><span title="English painter of maritime themes (1851-1931)">William Lionel Wyllie</span></a>
</bdi>
1914 ?
<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/115464">http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/115464</a>