The Circus Parade
Georges Seurat · 1887
Why it's great
A band of musicians plays on a platform in front of a circus, under the glowing yellow gas lights. Seurat painted tiny dots of color to capture the glimmer of the evening. The figures look as stiff as statues. It's a magical, strange picture.
👀 Look closer!
The musicians are playing on a stage. What instruments can you spot?
Where to see it
📍 Metropolitan Museum of ArtNew York City, United States
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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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.
