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

Oscar Yakovlevich Rabin (1928 - 2018)
Oscar Yakovlevich Rabin
1928 - 2018
Alfred Porteneuve (1896 - 1949)
Alfred Porteneuve
1896 - 1949
Theophile-Alexander Steinlen (1859 - 1923)
Theophile-Alexander Steinlen
1859 - 1923
 Cassandre (1901 - 1968)
Cassandre
1901 - 1968
Ambroise Louis Garneray (1783 - 1857)
Ambroise Louis Garneray
1783 - 1857
Benjamin Moravec (1977)
Benjamin Moravec
1977
Félix del Marle (1889 - 1952)
Félix del Marle
1889 - 1952
Jacques Roettiers (1707 - 1784)
Jacques Roettiers
1707 - 1784
François Linke (1855 - 1946)
François Linke
1855 - 1946
Nicolas Mignard (1606 - 1668)
Nicolas Mignard
1606 - 1668
Xavier Oriach (1927)
Xavier Oriach
1927
Félix-Saturnin Brissot de Warville (1818 - 1892)
Félix-Saturnin Brissot de Warville
1818 - 1892
Henri Laurens (1885 - 1954)
Henri Laurens
1885 - 1954
Ford Madox Brown (1821 - 1893)
Ford Madox Brown
1821 - 1893
Rose-Adélaïde Ducreux (1761 - 1802)
Rose-Adélaïde Ducreux
1761 - 1802
Hippolyte Bayard (1801 - 1887)
Hippolyte Bayard
1801 - 1887

Creators Divisionism

Arthur Merric Bloomfield Boyd (1920 - 1999)
Arthur Merric Bloomfield Boyd
1920 - 1999
René Victor Auberjonois (1872 - 1957)
René Victor Auberjonois
1872 - 1957
Sofia di Cacerano di Briquerazio (1867 - 1950)
Sofia di Cacerano di Briquerazio
1867 - 1950
Bruno Müller-Linow (1909 - 1997)
Bruno Müller-Linow
1909 - 1997
Alexandra Yegorovna Makovskaya (1837 - 1915)
Alexandra Yegorovna Makovskaya
1837 - 1915
Gustave Mascart (1834 - 1914)
Gustave Mascart
1834 - 1914
Fernand-Marie-Eugène Le Gout-Gérard (1854 - 1924)
Fernand-Marie-Eugène Le Gout-Gérard
1854 - 1924
Wolfgang Hutten (1922 - 1988)
Wolfgang Hutten
1922 - 1988
Carl Jutz II (1873 - 1915)
Carl Jutz II
1873 - 1915
Kurt Scheele (1905 - 1944)
Kurt Scheele
1905 - 1944
Valerii Georgievich Traugot (1936 - 2009)
Valerii Georgievich Traugot
1936 - 2009
Gioachimo Galbusera (1871 - 1944)
Gioachimo Galbusera
1871 - 1944
Karl Johann Nikolaus Piepho (1869 - 1920)
Karl Johann Nikolaus Piepho
1869 - 1920
Rudolf Franz Hartogh (1889 - 1960)
Rudolf Franz Hartogh
1889 - 1960
Hugo Volkwarth (1888 - 1946)
Hugo Volkwarth
1888 - 1946
Darius Cobb (1834 - 1919)
Darius Cobb
1834 - 1919
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