The inability of some critics to connect the dots doesn't make pointillism pointless - Georges Seurat (French Post-Impressionist painter)

Pointillism combines dots of color, arranged in distinct groups and patterns to create an image. 

Also known as dot art, pointillism is used in many forms of art, the term originally coined by art critics mocking artist Georges Seurat who founded this style in 1886. In fine art, it derives from the French word 'point', meaning 'dot'. Seurat, chose a more scientific alternative to the subjectiveness of Impressionism (which he rejected), at the beginning calling it Chromoluminarism. 
The Pointillist uses small tightly packed dots or dashes of unmixed color and leaves it to the brain of the viewer when seen at a certain distance to combine the colors optically giving a subtle but rich effect and range of tones. Seurat's, 'A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte' is the perhaps the most famous of pointillism paintings, which inspired the Broadway musical, 'Sunday in the Park with George'. 
The plot revolves around George, a fictionalized version of Seurat who immerses himself deeply in painting his masterpiece, and his great-grandson (also named George), a conflicted and cynical contemporary artist. - Wikipedia
 Paul Signac, Seurat's  main protègè, became the leading pointillism artist after Seurat's death in 1891. He preferred costal landscapes.
Maximillien Luce portrayed industrial society and working-class scenes.
Henri Matisse, one of the early 20th century masters of color and form also did studies in pointillism.
Vincent Van Gogh's famous 'Starry Night' uses dashes for the same effect.
I studied this technique with Koh-I-Noor drafter's rapidograph pens using ink, needing lots of patience and very unforgiving. I sometimes wonder what happened to the set I had.

Comments

  1. Why was he mocked when pointillism means 'dot'....and that's how he painted...with dots? I guess their mockery was in his favor. It's extraordinary art. I wonder if 'pixels' were derived from this art form as well.

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