The Circus
Georges Seurat · 1891
Why it's great
A circus rider leaps off a galloping white horse, a ringmaster cracks his whip and a clown tumbles. Seurat's last painting is made of tiny dots, with swirling lines to suggest motion. He died before he finished it, in 1891. It remains a lively picture of a night out.
👀 Look closer!
Find the clown, the ringmaster and the rider on the white horse. What tricks do you think they will do next?
Where to see it
📍 Musée d'OrsayParis, France
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
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.
