Paul Signac (1863–1935) was a French Neo-Impressionist painter renowned for his role in developing Pointillism alongside Georges Seurat. Born in Paris, Signac initially studied architecture but was drawn to painting, influenced by Impressionists like Monet. He met Seurat in 1884, embracing his color theory and divisionist technique, applying small dots of pure color to create luminous, vibrant images.
Signac’s subjects often featured maritime scenes, reflecting his passion for sailing. He traveled extensively along the French coast, capturing the interplay of light and color in harbors and ports. Additionally, Signac was an outspoken anarchist, using his art to advocate for social and political change, often depicting themes of labor strikes and unrest.
His artistic circle included van Gogh, Cézanne, and Matisse, and his influence on modern art was profound. Signac’s mastery of Pointillism and his innovative approach to color continue to inspire artists today.
He passed away in 1935, leaving behind a legacy of artistic innovation and social activism. His works remain celebrated for their technical brilliance and their ability to evoke emotion through light and color.
01. “The golden age has not passed; it lies in the future.”
— Paul Signac
02. “The art of the colorist has in some ways elements of mathematics and music.”
— Paul Signac
03. “Art is a creation of a higher order than a copy of nature which is governed by chance…. By the elimination of all muddy colors, by the exclusive use of optical mixture of pure colors, by a methodical divisionism and a strict observation of the scientific theory of colors, the neo-impressionists insures a maximum of luminosity, of color intensity, and of harmony- a result that has never yet been obtained.”
— Paul Signac
04. “The anarchist painter is not the one who will create anarchist pictures, but the one who will fight with all his individuality against official conventions.”
— Paul Signac
05. “Vuillard balances too far on the side of fantasy… the people in his pictures are not properly defined. As he’s an admirable draughtsman it must be that he just doesn’t want to give them mouths and hands and feet.”
— Paul Signac
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