Georges Seurat

Date of Birth: December 2, 1859

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: March 29, 1891

Biography

Georges-Pierre Seurat was a French post-Impressionist artist known for pioneering the technique of pointillism, a method of painting in which small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image. Born in Paris, France, Seurat showed an early interest in art, enrolling in the École Municipale de Sculpture et Dessin at a young age and later attending the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts. His most famous work, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” exemplifies his unique approach to color and form, making him a central figure in the Neo-Impressionist movement. Tragically, Seurat’s career was cut short when he died at the age of 31, but his contributions to the art world continue to influence artists and art movements to this day.

5 Interesting Facts about Georges Seurat

1. Georges Seurat developed the technique of pointillism, also known as divisionism, where small dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image.

2. His most famous painting, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” took two years to complete and is considered a masterpiece of the pointillist technique.

3. Seurat was heavily influenced by scientific theories of color and optics, particularly the works of Michel Eugène Chevreul.

4. He was a founding member of the Société des Artistes Indépendants, an association that rejected the traditional academic norms of the art world.

5. Despite his short life, Seurat completed seven major paintings, 60 smaller paintings and sketches, and numerous drawings.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Georges Seurat

1. “Harmony is the analogy of the contrary and of similar elements of tone, of color, and of line, considered according to their dominance and under the influence of a particular light, in gay, calm, or sad combinations.”

2. “Originality depends only on the character of the drawing and the vision peculiar to each artist.”

3. “Some say they see poetry in my paintings; I see only science.”

4. “All painting is a synthesis of what one sees and what one knows.”

5. “Painting is the art of hollowing a surface.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Georges Seurat did not achieve significant financial success during his lifetime. His highest net worth is estimated to be modest, as he was not widely recognized or financially successful when he died.

Children

Georges Seurat had one known child, a son named Pierre-Georges Seurat, born February 16, 1890, with Madeleine Knobloch. Unfortunately, Pierre-Georges also died young in 1968.