POST-IMPRESSIONISM

MODERN ART IN EUROPE IN THE LATE 19th CENTURY

INTRODUCTION to Post-Impressionism

• By 1885-86 necessity of a shift in the conception of the image . From impressionistic evanescence to a new kind of firmness, solidity.

• The term “postimpressionism” does not identify a movement but rather assembles different individual styles : post- impressionist trends

• Most significant artists: Georges Seurat, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Vincent Van Gogh

• They all started from the impressionist experience but then extended beyond it and its limitations

Post-impressionism wants to express new thematic and stylistic force, experimenting with new visual languages

Two main trends inside post-impressionism

Scientific post-impressionism Lyrical post-impressionismCézanne , Seurat Gauguin, Van Gogh

Scientific post-impressionism desire to abandon and overcome impressionist preoccupation with the fleeting moment

Scientific Theories Michele Eugene Chevreul : "Loi du contraste simultané des

couleurs« (publ. 1839)

PRINCIPLE OF SIMULTANEOUS CONTRAST

Two contiguous colors seen side by side are perceived differently as they really are (as viewed separately ona black background)

Maxwell-Chevreul new scientific theories about optics and vision of light and colour

Seurat’s experimentation with the new theories

Contrasting and complementary colors can optically mix to reach far more vivid tones than those achieved by mixing paint alone (theory of SIMULTANEOUS CONTRAST AND RETINAL FUSION)

SEURAT’S NOVELTY : technique of CHROMOLUMINISMapplication of the theory OF “MELANGE OPTIQUE” to the

technique of JUXTAPOSITION OF DOTS

TECHNIQUE OF CHROMOLUMINISM

- Analysis of the colors of objects- Attempt to synthesize them through small dots or

touches of color- Dots of color approximately equal in size

lying side by side produce an optical fusion

The result is ….Greater luminosity and brilliance of colors are

achieved

Phenomenon of the duration of the light impression on the retina

POINTILLISM

Seurat defined the optical synthesis he achieved as

“a mixture of the lights and their shadows in accordance with the

laws of contrast sequence and

irradiation”

The Circus, 1891

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte1884-86, oil on canvas, 2.07x3.08 m – The Art Institute of Chicago

1886: VIII impressionist exhibition

Theme: summer middle class weekend leisure

Composition: the geometry of space and distribution of figures is almost classical

Figures: static, volumetric but also without body weight

( might be a criticism to middle class society)

Effects of the technique of POINTILLISM

- Both characters and natural elements are made of the same multicolor fine dust

- No spontaneity (#impressionist painting) and no en plain air painting

- Almost 3 years to be finished

Scientific approach application of GOLDEN RATIO (see relationship btw bodies and shadows)