Neo-Impressionism (painting style)
Neo-Impressionism is an art movement that emerged in the late 19th century as a reaction to Impressionism, primarily characterized by the use of Pointillism and Divisionism techniques. Founded by Georges Seurat, the movement sought to create a more systematic and detailed approach to color application, using individual dots of pigment to achieve optical effects rather than mixing colors on a palette. Other notable artists associated with Neo-Impressionism include Paul Signac and Camille Pissarro. The movement reached its peak from 1886 to 1891, mainly in Paris, before influencing other artists and styles until the early 20th century. Neo-Impressionists were inspired by color theory and optical theories, which guided their exploration of light and color interactions. Seurat's iconic work, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte," exemplifies these techniques, showcasing how arranged dots can create vibrant visual impressions from a distance. Overall, Neo-Impressionism represents a significant development in the evolution of modern art, influencing future movements and artists.
Neo-Impressionism (painting style)
The middle to late nineteenth century is characterized by the Neo-Impressionist art movement. A reaction to Impressionism, the Neo-Impressionists sought to develop a detailed articulated system of color. Georges Seurat is considered to be the father of Neo-Impressionism. Other significant artists associated with the movement are Paul Signac and Camille Pissarro. The chief characteristics of Neo-Impressionism are Pointillism and Divisionism. These constitute different aspects of the use of paint, with specific reference to color, incorporating dots and separation. Neo-Impressionism was not a long-lasting artistic period, gaining its peak from 1886 to 1891, but showing traces of influence for years following even up to the outbreak of the First World War. The movement centered around Paris and spread to Belgium (Brussels).
Brief History
Impressionism. Impressionism is the precursor to Neo-Impressionism (and Post-Impressionism). Impressionism was the name given to the art movement style embodied by Claude Monet and colleagues. Described as an "impression" (rather than a completed painting) by the art critic Louis Leroy, when seeing a painting of Monet's, the name became synonymous with an Impressionist style of art.
Neo-Impressionism. The term Neo-Impressionism was conjured by art critic Felix Feneon. The first time the term was used occurred in Paris in 1886 during an exhibition where Georges Seurat presented his signature piece A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. Color and the way it is manipulated by the paintbrush in conjunction with the optical vision this presents are the focus of Neo-Impressionism. Rather than mixing colors on the palette, colored dots are placed in neat formation to create a visual effect through the individual audience's own lens. Moreover, the way these dots of color were painted gave an illusion of light or luminescence.
Color Theory and Optical Theory. Neo-Impressionist artists were inspired by optical theory, motivating their interplay among color, light, and visual impression. Color theory espoused by Michel Eugene Chevreul in his treatise De la loi du contraste simultanee des couleurs (On the law of the simultaneous contrast of colors), published in Paris in 1839, influenced them, as it did the Impressionists and also the Post-Impressionists.
The main group of Neo-Impressionist artists comprises Georges Seurat (1859-1891), Paul Signac (1863-1935), and Camille Pissarro (1830-1903).
Post-Impressionism. Post-Impressionism described the period following Impressionism, and centering on the time period of the late nineteenth century into the beginning of the twentieth century. Artists of the Post-Impressionist period include Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, and Henry de Toulouse-Lautrec.
Artists of the modern era have drawn inspiration from the Neo-Impressionists, bearing evidence of influence from their predecessors. The manner in which the painting format and the detailed use of color form part of the canon of later works demonstrate these art skills deriving from the Neo-Impressionist time.
Overview
Georges Seurat. Georges Seurat appears to have initiated the Neo-Impressionist trend. His works bear testimony to his defined way of using color in a measured and even scientific or geometric way. Paintings of Seurat include A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, The Circus, The Eiffel Tower, Bathers at Asnieres, and The Seine at Courbevoie.
Camille Pissarro. Camille Pissarro admired Seurat's use of color harmony and began to embrace the technique. He was one of the first to join the circle of newly created Neo-Impressionist artists when he established himself in Paris after starting life in the West Indies. Pissarro's Landscape at Chaponval and Boulevard Montmartre form part of the canon of his works.
Paul Signac. Paul Signac, a member of the Neo-Impressionist art scene and close colleague of Seurat, was an important proponent of the art style especially following Seurat's death in 1891. Taking the Neo-Impressionist style into the years leading up to 1910, Signac led the way to releasing vibrant use of color. He did much to promote the technique of color harmony, and also taught the Divisionist approach to utilizing colors and tones. His published work D'Eugene Delacroix au neo-impressionnisme (From Eugen Delacroix to Neo-Impressionism) presented the theory. Furthermore, he argued for the style of art referred to as Neo-Impressionism being the rightful successor of Impressionism. Signac's paintings include Grand Canal in Venice, The Papal Palace at Avignon, and The Port of Saint-Tropez.
Neo-Impressionism. Neo-Impressionism incorporated the techniques of Divisionism and Pointillism. These artistic techniques enabled the color and light to be presented in a unique way to create a powerful effect.
Divisionism/Divisionist. Divisionism was a technique devised by the Neo-Impressionist artists in a system of dividing colors. Colors would be separated by painting individual strokes of color.
Pointillism/Pointillist Technique. Pointillism, a technique used by the Neo-Impressionist artists, comprises a system of dots. The artist paints multiple precise dots of paint out of many pure primary colors. The way the dots are placed on the canvas creates an impression that when viewing it from a distance, a set of colors and contrasts play in front of the viewer's eyes.
Famous Work. A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is one of Georges Seurat's most famous art works depicting the Neo-Impressionist style and considered an icon of Neo-Impressionism. Painted by Seurat between 1894 and 1886, the painting is an oil on canvas. The Pointillism technique is evident in the painting, clearly demonstrating the Neo-Impressionist style. The colors that are highlighted through the technique give rise to the contrasts of colors that paint the picture of the people strolling or resting in a relaxed fashion on the Island of La Grande Jatte. While it is not possible to see the expressive details of the characters in the painting, the colors by means of Pointillism evoke an impression and expression of the scene and its people. The painting is housed in the Art Institute in Chicago.
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