GEORGE SEURATGEORGE SEURAT

Art MasterpieceArt MasterpieceFulton Elementary - 3rd Fulton Elementary - 3rd

GradeGrade

(Zhorzh Soo-(Zhorzh Soo-rahrah))

““Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”

Seurat Seurat was born was born in Parisin Parisin 1859in 1859

His family was rich so His family was rich so he never had to work he never had to work

for a living.for a living.

Seurat first studied Seurat first studied sculpturesculpture

He enrolled in a school of He enrolled in a school of art in Paris.art in Paris.

Seurat spent a lot of time Seurat spent a lot of time at the Louvre copying art at the Louvre copying art

of famous painters.of famous painters.

Seurat read a lot of booksSeurat read a lot of booksand was interested in and was interested in

scientific theories.scientific theories.

He was as much of a He was as much of a scientist as an artist.scientist as an artist.

He studied the effects of He studied the effects of color and light and color and light and

explored how light was used explored how light was used in black and white in black and white

drawings.drawings.

Seurat wanted to create the Seurat wanted to create the vibrant colors that the vibrant colors that the

Impressionsts used.Impressionsts used.

Seurat came up with his Seurat came up with his own method of creating own method of creating

vibrant colors.vibrant colors.

Seurat came up with his Seurat came up with his own method of creating own method of creating

vibrant colors.vibrant colors.

He would place small He would place small touches of unmixed color touches of unmixed color

side by side on the canvas. side by side on the canvas.

This meant that the eye This meant that the eye mixed the colors as the mixed the colors as the painting was observed.painting was observed.

Seurat began to paint using Seurat began to paint using this method.this method.

This technique became This technique became known asknown as

“pointillism”“pointillism”

Seurat applied his paint in Seurat applied his paint in thousands of tiny dots.thousands of tiny dots.

““Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”

His spots of color might have been His spots of color might have been squares, triangles, circles or tiny squares, triangles, circles or tiny

lines.lines.

““Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”

““Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”

““Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”

““Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”

““Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”

PointillismPointillism

A technique of painting A technique of painting in which many tiny dots in which many tiny dots are combined to form a are combined to form a

picture.picture.

When two colors are right When two colors are right next to each other your eye next to each other your eye

mixes them in a process mixes them in a process called, “optical mixing.”called, “optical mixing.”

Using optical mixing rather Using optical mixing rather than physical mixing can than physical mixing can create a brighter picture.create a brighter picture.

“The Circus”1891

ByGeorgesSeurat

Pointillism ExampleUsing Soda Cans

Painting a pointillist piece Painting a pointillist piece is a slow and painstaking is a slow and painstaking

process.process.

““Sunday in the Park”Sunday in the Park”

* Very Large – 7 feet by 10 feet – it covers a wall!* Took Seurat 2 years to finish

* Each dot is 1/16 of an inch – that’s 3,456,000 dots!!

Lots of artists tried to copy Lots of artists tried to copy Seurat’s work. But no one Seurat’s work. But no one was ever as good as he was.was ever as good as he was.

Seurat died very suddenly at Seurat died very suddenly at the age of 31 in 1891, the age of 31 in 1891,

apparently from meningitis. apparently from meningitis. He had a wife and a 1-year-He had a wife and a 1-year-

old son.old son.

(1859 – 1891)

Seurat left behind:Seurat left behind:

* Over 400 drawings * Over 400 drawings* 6 completed sketchbooks* 6 completed sketchbooks

* 60 canvas paintings* 60 canvas paintings

““Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”By George SeuratBy George Seurat