Published by KidsHomeschoolMagazine.com
Can you imagine taking two years to create a painting that is only made of dots!? Tiny dots that is, with a small paintbrush, one dot at a time….this is what the Great Master Artist George Seurat did. Taking two years, 1884-1886, Seurat painted, dotted and created his most famous work of art, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.
George Seurat was a Post-Impressionist painter who was born in Paris, France in 1859. He was highly influenced by Delacroix and his use of color along with the Impressionists before him. He believed an artist could use color to create harmony and emotion and devised a method of painting called Pointillism. This technique juxtaposes tiny dots of paint next to each other that lead the eye to blend colors, almost like an optical illusion! Truly amazing!
The painting itself depicts families enjoying a beautiful afternoon at the park, from sailing, to playing, to sitting under trees relaxing.
I often think of the patience and passion that Seurat must have had when creating this painting. What a life lesson to be reminded that great work takes time, patience, and care.
You can visit this painting at the Chicago Art Institute.
A trip truly worth taking.
With Art Appreciation,
Lauren Perelmuter
President/Founder
Art To Grow On Children’s Art Center, Inc.
www.art2growon.com * picasso@art2growon.com
(310) 625-6028