A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
Georges Seurat · 1884
Why it's great
Parisians relax by a river on a sunny Sunday — but the whole picture is made of tiny dots of pure color! Seurat spent two years on it, studying the science of how our eyes mix colors. Standing back, the dots blend into glowing light. This technique, called pointillism, was brand new. It's famous for being both a quiet picnic and a daring experiment.
Where to see it
📍 Art Institute of ChicagoChicago, United States
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About the artist
Georges Seurat1859–1891 · born in former 5th arrondissement of Paris · died in boulevard de Magenta
Georges Seurat was born in Paris and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts. He invented pointillism, painting with tiny dots of pure color that blend in the viewer's eye. He worked slowly and carefully in his studio, making many sketches before big paintings. He died suddenly at only 31, leaving behind just a handful of masterpieces.
