Georges Seurat (1859 - 1891) - photo 1

Georges Seurat

Georges Seurat was a French painter, renowned as the founder of the 19th-century French school of Neo-Impressionism. His groundbreaking technique, Pointillism, involved the use of tiny, contrasting color brushstrokes that, when viewed together, created a luminous quality in his compositions. Seurat's life was a blend of rigorous academic training and innovative artistic exploration.

Born on December 2, 1859, in Paris, Seurat demonstrated an early interest in art. He received formal training at the École des Beaux-Arts under Henri Lehmann, a disciple of the Neo-Classical painter Ingres, where he honed his skills in drawing and composition. Seurat was deeply influenced by color theories and the science of optics, which became central to his artistic approach. He was particularly inspired by the work of Michel-Eugène Chevreul and Ogden N. Rood, whose writings on color contrast and harmony greatly influenced his painting technique.

One of Seurat's most famous works, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" (1884–1886), showcased his Pointillism technique. This painting, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, portrays members of different social classes engaged in various activities in a park setting. The work is notable for its use of small, juxtaposed dots of multi-colored paint, which allow the viewer's eye to blend colors optically. This technique was a significant departure from the traditional methods of color mixing on the canvas.

Another notable work by Seurat is "Bathers at Asnières" (1884), displayed at the National Gallery in London. This large canvas depicts young men relaxing by the Seine in a working-class suburb of Paris. The painting reflects Seurat's neoclassical training, with its smooth, simplified textures and carefully outlined figures.

Seurat's final painting, "The Circus" (1890-91), represents a shift to a more dynamic representation of movement and is typical of his late style. Unfortunately, Seurat's life was cut short when he died suddenly in March 1891, leaving "The Circus" unfinished. This painting is now part of the collection at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.

Seurat's innovative techniques and his exploration of color theory and optics had a lasting impact on the art world, influencing subsequent generations of artists. His work remains a testament to the fusion of scientific principles with artistic expression, making him a pivotal figure in the transition from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism and modern art​​​​​​.

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Date and place of birt:2 december 1859, Paris, France
Date and place of death:29 march 1891, Paris, France
Nationality:France
Period of activity: XIX century
Specialization:Artist, Painter
Art school / group:Société des artistes indépendants
Genre:Genre art, Landscape painting, Portrait, Still life
Art style:Impressionism, Neo-impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Divisionism, Pointillism

Creators France

Mania Mavro (1889 - 1969)
Mania Mavro
1889 - 1969
Georges Rouget (1783 - 1869)
Georges Rouget
1783 - 1869
Stephane Graff (1965)
Stephane Graff
1965
Étienne Jeaurat (1699 - 1789)
Étienne Jeaurat
1699 - 1789
Pierre-Adrien Pâris (1745 - 1819)
Pierre-Adrien Pâris
1745 - 1819
Bertrand Meniel (1961)
Bertrand Meniel
1961
François-Xavier Fabre (1766 - 1837)
François-Xavier Fabre
1766 - 1837
Gustave Brion (1824 - 1877)
Gustave Brion
1824 - 1877
 Mr. Brainwash (1966)
Mr. Brainwash
1966
Jacques Joseph Eckhout (1793 - 1861)
Jacques Joseph Eckhout
1793 - 1861
Manuel Ortiz de Zárate Pinto (1887 - 1946)
Manuel Ortiz de Zárate Pinto
1887 - 1946
 Bedford Master (XIV century - XV century)
Bedford Master
XIV century - XV century
Antoine Rivalz (1667 - 1735)
Antoine Rivalz
1667 - 1735
Francisco Iturrino González (1864 - 1924)
Francisco Iturrino González
1864 - 1924
Larry Rivers (1923 - 2002)
Larry Rivers
1923 - 2002
Carlos Schwabe (1866 - 1926)
Carlos Schwabe
1866 - 1926

Creators Divisionism

Wilhelm Claudius (1854 - 1942)
Wilhelm Claudius
1854 - 1942
Theodor Severin Kittelsen (1857 - 1914)
Theodor Severin Kittelsen
1857 - 1914
Carl Maria Plückebaum (1880 - 1952)
Carl Maria Plückebaum
1880 - 1952
Martín Rico y Ortega (1833 - 1908)
Martín Rico y Ortega
1833 - 1908
Hugo Birger Peterson (1854 - 1887)
Hugo Birger Peterson
1854 - 1887
Ilya Ivanovich Mashkov (1881 - 1944)
Ilya Ivanovich Mashkov
1881 - 1944
Nikolay Vasilevich Dosekin (1863 - 1935)
Nikolay Vasilevich Dosekin
1863 - 1935
Vilhelms Purvītis (1872 - 1945)
Vilhelms Purvītis
1872 - 1945
Simon Glücklich (1863 - 1943)
Simon Glücklich
1863 - 1943
William McTaggart (1835 - 1910)
William McTaggart
1835 - 1910
Leo von König (1871 - 1944)
Leo von König
1871 - 1944
Camill Ressu (1880 - 1962)
Camill Ressu
1880 - 1962
Osmar Schindler (1867 - 1927)
Osmar Schindler
1867 - 1927
Gazi Ighan Ghirei (1900 - 1975)
Gazi Ighan Ghirei
1900 - 1975
Max Emanuel Zettler (1886 - 1926)
Max Emanuel Zettler
1886 - 1926
Anne Bremer (1868 - 1923)
Anne Bremer
1868 - 1923
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