Pointillism

Pointillism is a painting technique that emerged in the late 19th century, developed mainly by Georges Seurat and Paul Signac. This technique involves applying small dots of pure color to the canvas so that, when viewed from a certain distance, they blend optically to form new shades and create detailed images. Influenced by Impressionism, Pointillism took color and light theory to a new level, exploring how colors interact with each other and with the human eye.

The movement that most influenced the development of Pointillism was Impressionism, characterized by the use of quick brushstrokes and the capture of natural light. However, unlike the Impressionists, the Pointillists focused on the science behind color perception, using a more systematic and precise method. Pointillism, also known as Divisionism, sought to break down the image into its most basic color components to achieve greater luminosity and chromatic purity.

Three of the most representative Pointillist painters are Georges Seurat, Paul Signac, and Camille Pissarro. Seurat, with his masterpiece "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte", established the fundamental principles of this technique. Paul Signac, for his part, expanded and refined Seurat's methodology, applying Pointillism to a variety of themes and formats, from landscapes to portraits. Camille Pissarro, although initially an Impressionist, adopted Pointillism in the latter part of his career, influenced by the precision and scientific rigor of his colleagues.

Pointillism influenced several subsequent artistic movements, including Fauvism and Expressionism. The Fauves, such as Henri Matisse, adopted the idea of using pure and bright colors, albeit with broader and less structured brushstrokes. The Expressionists, on the other hand, took the exploration of color and light from Pointillism but focused more on emotion and subjectivity.