Post-Impressionism
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Georges Seurat
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| When: |
1859-91 |
| Where: |
Paris, France |
| What: |
Pointillism |
| How: |
Based on scientific theories of colours and optics.
Applying small dots of pure, unmixed colours over the whole
canvas.
Colours set side-by-side mixed by the eye with achieve greater
luminosity than if mixed on the painter’s palette.
The whole will fused together when looked from a distance -
giving a grainy effect. |
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Laborious work - only completed 7 large paintings
in his career. |
| Subject: |
Contemporary life |
| Colours & Emotions |
Assigned certain emotions to different colours and shapes
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Warm colours & lines moving upwards = Action
& gaiety
Dark, cool colours & descending lines = Sadness
Mid-tones & balance warm and cool colours & lateral
lines = Calmness |
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| How: |
Paint and draw sketches and small paintings and
assemble on the final composition on the canvas. |
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Many paintings make use of the conventional
triangle composition - giving a sense of monumentality and also
due to the size of the canvases. |
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| Paintings with Figures: |
Bathers at Asnieres
1883-84 (retouched 1887)
79 x 118 1/2 in
National Gallery, London |
Bathers at Asnieres
1883-84 (retouched 1887)
detail |
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
1884-86
Oil on canvas
Art Institute of Chicago |
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The Models
1887-88
Oil on canvas
78 3/4 x 98 3/8 in
The Barnes Foundation, Merion, PA |
The Side Show
1888
Oil on canvas
39 3/4 x 59 1/8 in
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
The Side Show
Detail
1888
Oil on canvas
39 3/4 x 59 1/8 in
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
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Le chahut
1889-90
Oil on canvas
66 1/8 x 55 1/2 in
Kroller-Muller Museum, Otterlo |
The Circus
1891
Oil on canvas
73 x 59 1/8 in
Musee d'Orsay, Paris |
The Circus is Seurat's last large painting.
The frame of the painting is part of the canvas which he painted
with dabs of paint as well.
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| Landscape |
Le Pont de Courbevoie
1886-87
Oil on canvas
18 x 21 1/2 in.
Courtauld Institute, London |
The Seine at Le Grande Jatte
1888
Oil on canvas
25 5/8 x 32 1/4 in.
Musee Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, Brussels |
The Channel at Gravelines, Evening
1890
Oil on canvas
25 3/4 x 32 1/4 in.
The Museum of Modern Art, New York
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| Note: |
Study the use of colours closely. Enlarge the
image so as to see the dabs of paint Seurat used to create the
parts of the objects, especially the shadow. |
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