Georges Seurat, born in 1859 in Paris, France, was a French painter and pioneer of the Neo-Impressionist movement. He is best known for developing the technique of pointillism, in which small, distinct dots of pure color are applied in patterns to form an image. Seurat’s most famous work, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” exemplifies his meticulous pointillist style and his interest in depicting scenes of modern urban life. This painting is considered one of the seminal works of Post-Impressionism.

Beyond his innovative technique, Seurat was deeply interested in color theory and the science of optics, which influenced his approach to painting. He sought to create harmony and balance in his compositions through the careful arrangement of color and light. Despite his short career—he passed away at the age of 31—Seurat’s contributions to the development of modern art were significant. His groundbreaking techniques and exploration of color had a profound influence on subsequent generations of artists, paving the way for movements such as Fauvism and Cubism.

Georges Seurat Quotes

01. “The inability of some critics to connect the dots doesn’t make pointillism pointless.”
— Georges Seurat

02. “Some say they see poetry in my paintings; I see only science.”
— Georges Seurat

03. “Originality depends only on the character of the drawing and the vision peculiar to each artist.”
— Georges Seurat

04. “Art is harmony. Harmony is the analogy of contrary and of similar elements of tone, of color and of line, conditioned by the dominate key, and under the influence of a particular light, in gay, calm, or sad combinations.”
— Georges Seurat

05. “Let’s go and get drunk on light again – it has the power to console.”
— Georges Seurat

06. “Painting is the art of hollowing a surface.”
— Georges Seurat

07. “They see poetry in what I have done. No. I apply my methods, and that is all there is to it.”
— Georges Seurat