Georges Seurat
In 1886, Georges Seurat displayed works similar to the one presented today at the eighth and final Impressionist exhibition, positioning him as a leading modernist. Drawing on new theories about the optical properties of light and color, Seurat invented a technique known as Pointillism, or Divisionism, which he considered a scientifically objective form of Impressionism. He placed tiny dots of unmixed pigments in shades that correspond to the perceived local color, the color of the light, the complement of the local color in shadow, and the reflected color from nearby areas. These would visually blend when viewed from a distance. This meticulous technique, less random than Impressionism, allowed Seurat to more precisely capture visual illusions while maintaining the fresh, natural qualities he admired in Impressionist works.
After an intense studio campaign that led to the creation and exhibition of A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, a controversial piece also shown in 1886, Seurat spent the summer in Honfleur, a seaside resort near Le Havre. He relaxed by painting local landmarks such as the hospice and the lighthouse depicted in The Lighthouse at Honfleur. Balancing the warm hues of the sandy beach and lighthouse with the cool blues of the sky and water, and constructing a stable composition around the pier's horizon and the verticality of the lighthouse tower, Seurat created a work of majestic tranquility.
P.S. Seurat died young, but his friend, Paul Signac, carried on his legacy. If you'd like to learn more about Pointillism, and how the movement changed, check out our online course Post-Impressionism 101. :)
P.P.S. Summer is almost here! To get in the summer mood see these amazing Pointillist landscapes!