In the mid 1880s, Seurat made frequent excursions to the Island of la Grand Jatte in the river Seine. A short distance from Paris, the island was a fashionable destination for bathers, Sunday walkers and picnickers. It was also attractive for painters like Seurat who found modern Parisians enjoying their free time a compelling subject for their art. Seurat based his famous A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte on a multitude of drawings and oil sketches he made there. The Picnic, an image of three children enjoying an outdoor lunch, may well have been one of the oil sketches Seurat painted with La Grande Jatte in mind. However, the figural grouping in The Picnic does not appear in the final version of Seurat’s masterpiece. Tomorrow we will present another study for Sunday Afternoon, painted in a different manner so stay tuned! You can also share your thoughts on our facebook page or twitter @DailyArtApp
The Picnic
oil on panel • 6 1/4 x 10 in
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Georges Seurat