Seurat, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/S/seurat/jatte.jpg.html

I decided to analyze Seurat's painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande. In the article, the author suggests that Seurat's theory was optical: the conviction that painting in dots, known as pointillism or divisionism, would produce a brighter color than painting strokes. After analyzing the painting I tend to agree with Seurat's claim. This pointillism or divisionism gives the painting a false sense of reality. By using this technique, the painting is more define. When I look at the body of water to the upper left of the painting, the blue looks a lot lighter than the blue of paintings that were painted by strokes rather than dots. Stated in the article, "Seurat spent two years painting this picture, concentrating painstakingly on the landscape of the park before focusing on the people; always their shapes, never their personalities. Individuals did not interest him, only their formal elegance." I firmly agree with the preceding quote. As I analyze the painting, the only define objects in the painting are the body structures and the landscape. The characteristics that make an individual unique are hardly captured from the painting: eyes, nose, facial structure, etc. Consequently, the body structure of the individuals in the painting are magnified. The woman's physique in particular is one of the most dominant characteristics of the painting. The impression that is perceived from the painting is very impressive. As you can see in the painting, there are children running around aimlessly, dogs playing, boats sailing, people conversing, and there is even a gentlemen playing an instrument; however the affect that is given from the painting is total and complete silence. I honestly believe that the technique he used, pointillism, is what conveyed that quality effectively. Although Seurat captures what seems to be total chaos, he still manages to convey a peaceful atmosphere in his painting. The shadow and light of the painting gives the viewer and atmospheric perspective. The color, technique, and structure of the painting, like paintings we have discussed in class, gives the painting life and reveals a lot not only about the motives of the painter but of society as well.

Quoted from the article:

"This is a world both real and unreal-a sacred world. We are often harried by life's pressures and its speed, and many of us think at times: Stop the world, I want to get off!

In agreeance with the author of this article, I truly believe Seurat has "stopped the world" in his painting.