Divisionism In Georges Seurat's A Sunday On La Grande Jatte

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When viewing Georges Seurat’s, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte (Fig. 31-37), perception is changed vastly depending on the viewer 's proximity to the piece. At close range, all that is visible is a mass array of countless circular dots and tiny lines in a vast range of colors. Greens, blues, reds, oranges, yellows, white, browns, black and purples are all visible in a multitude of intensities. The Divisionism technique utilized causes this piece to appear as an abstract collection of colors when viewed at close range. Yet when distance is between the piece and the viewer, these seemingly sporadic dots come together to create a complete and detailed scene. Primarily consisting of biomorphic shapes, Seurat’s incorporates in every inch of the canvas …show more content…

31-40), there is a vast difference between his piece and Georges Seurat’s. Instead of using dots to create the effect for his piece, Van Gogh primarily uses small lined brush strokes heavy with paint giving a palpable appearance. Most visible is the predominant use of the color blue, ranging in different levels of intensity from a color so deep it appears to almost be black to the palest of blues, bordering on being white. Among these many shades of blues, yellow, white, black and a reddish brown are also visible. To balance the extravagant whirling skyscape located above the small village, Van Gogh includes in the foreground a large, gnarled looking tree, opposite side of the canvas to the imposing, glowing moon. Motion is noticeable within the sky, wherein the clouds and stars carry similar appearance to large waves. As though mimicking the movement from above, the mountains below follow along similar curvature as the clouds and stars, making it challenging for the viewer to determine where precisely the sky starts and the earth …show more content…

32-81), presents itself as a wild array of freeform shapes. Arches and crescents, lines and circles, all splattered across the canvas. Free flowing unstructured geometric and biomorphic shapes alike can be found in black, white, gray and brown. Though covered from edge to edge in what looks to be an unrestrained painting free-for-all, a distinct bordering edge is undeniably visible. Within the piece, the dripping, and splattered lines seem to thin and become increasingly sparse as they come closer to the edge of the canvas. Further balance is achieved within the composition with the accumulation of the densest points coming together towards the center of the canvas. The entire piece strikes one as almost being alive with its nonstop motion. It creates a sense of organized chaos. When viewing Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) (Fig. 32-81), I feel as though it has captured the view of the world while in motion, more particularly the view of the world while dancing. The rhythmic movement from one side to the next, sweeping across the floor, the freedom of movement as the body turns and spins and the world blurs around. The title suits the piece perfectly as it is easy to envision how the winds carry the autumn leaves, similarly as though they are dancing in the air. Wild and free, yet contained and controlled by the gusting of the wind. The movement within this piece evokes the feeling of being energized and alive. Not necessarily a

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