Georges Seurat (French, 1859-1891) is known for his invention of the technique pointalism, whereby
shapes are created with dots of different colors rather than smooth continuous pigment. This (I think) was
the first use of what we now call pixels. The dots are meant to mix the colors within the eye, not on the palate:
melange optique. Seurat believed that, for instance, a dab of blue next to a dab of yellow on the canvas could mix
on the retina to make green. By inventing this technique,
Seurat introduced a radical alternative to impressionism. His neo-impressionist works were canvases of combat
since they challenged conventional technique. Pointalism is very evident in Grand Camp Evening (1885):



Of particular note is the use of color to create dimension: the dark green foreground contrasts the light blue
background. Another rather tricky way Seurat uses color is by actually painting th frame into the piece.
Check out this close-up from the lower right corner:



Seurat first explored light without using color. In his drawings, he used 2 main materials: textured paper
and black conte crayon. Conte crayon, a pressed mix of clay and carbon black, was developed by Nicholas Jacques
Conte at the end of the 18th century. Incidently, Conte also invented the pencil by using clay and graphite.



In Midnight Stroll (above), Seurat refused to define the subjects completely. The figures appear soft, their
identities removed for the purpose of archetypal symbolism. The tone of the drawing owes to dragging the Conte
crayon over the ruggedly textured paper. The crests of irregularities on the paper surface retained the pigment while
the troths remained white. Here is another good example:



The Conte crayon was erased to create light. Seurat employed the technique of using dark and light (see also
Remberant and Caravaggio) to create the halo effect of irradiation.

Seurat was a man of few words, reserved in nature, the notary he was called. He took the busy nature out of
panting and simplified the art. I like this one, Rays, because it is simply radiant!