Pointillism (, also US: ) is a painting technique characterized by the application of small, discrete dots of color arranged in patterns to construct an image.
Georges Seurat and Paul Signac originated this technique in 1886, evolving from Impressionism. Art critics initially introduced the term "Pointillism" in the late 1880s as a derogatory label for these artists' creations; however, it is now employed devoid of its original pejorative implications. The artistic movement initiated by Seurat through this method is recognized as Neo-impressionism. Divisionists also employed a comparable pattern-based technique for image formation, albeit utilizing larger, cube-like brushstrokes.
Technique
This technique fundamentally depends on the viewer's ocular and cognitive capacity to optically merge discrete color spots into a comprehensive spectrum of tones. It shares an affinity with Divisionism, which represents a more technically oriented iteration of the method. Divisionism primarily addresses principles of color theory, while Pointillism emphasizes the distinctive brushwork employed for paint application. Currently, Pointillism has a limited number of dedicated practitioners, with its most prominent examples found in the oeuvres of Seurat, Signac, and Cross.
Between 1905 and 1907, Robert Delaunay and Jean Metzinger adopted a Divisionist approach, employing substantial squares or "cubes" of color. The dimensions and orientation of these elements imparted a rhythmic quality to the artwork, yet their coloration remained independent of their size and positioning. This particular manifestation of Divisionism represented a notable progression beyond the artistic concerns of Signac and Cross. In 1906, art critic Louis Chassevent identified this distinction and, as noted by art historian Daniel Robbins, utilized the term "cube," which Louis Vauxcelles subsequently adopted to define Cubism. Chassevent observed:
- "Mr. Metzinger functions as a mosaicist akin to Mr. Signac, yet he exhibits greater precision in the delineation of his color cubes, which convey the impression of mechanical fabrication [...]."
Practice
The methodology of Pointillism diverges significantly from conventional techniques involving the blending of pigments on a palette. Pointillism bears a resemblance to the four-color CMYK printing process, employed by certain color printers and large-scale presses, which deposits dots of cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black). Similarly, televisions and computer monitors utilize a comparable approach to render image colors through red, green, and blue (RGB) components.
When red, blue, and green light, which are the additive primary colors, are combined, the outcome approximates white light. While painting is intrinsically a subtractive process, Pointillist colors frequently exhibit greater luminosity compared to standard mixed subtractive hues. This phenomenon may be partially attributed to the avoidance of subtractive pigment mixing and the potential visibility of the white canvas between the applied dots.
The Pointillist approach to color mixing in painting necessitates a departure from traditional brushwork typically employed for rendering texture.
The predominant medium for Pointillism is oil paint. Although alternative mediums can be utilized, oils are favored due to their viscosity and resistance to running or bleeding.
Music
The term Pointillism also designates a compositional style within 20th-century music. In this context, individual musical notes are presented discretely rather than in a continuous linear progression, thereby creating an auditory texture analogous to its painterly counterpart. This musical genre is additionally referred to as punctualism or klangfarbenmelodie.
In the 21st century, the compositions of Australian composer Georges Lentz, drawing inspiration from Kathleen Petyarre's nuanced dot paintings and the celestial expanse of the Australian Outback, have similarly been characterized as pointillistic in certain respects.
Notable artists
- Albert Dubois-Pillet
- Alfred William Finch
- Camille Pissarro
- Charles Angrand
- Chuck Close
- Gale D. Jones
- Georges Lemmen
- Georges Seurat
- Henri Delavallée
- Henri-Edmond Cross
- Hippolyte Petitjean
- Jan Toorop
- Jean Metzinger
- John Roy
- Louis Fabien (pseudonym)
- Maximilien Luce
- Paul Signac
- Théo van Rysselberghe
- Vincent van Gogh
- Anna Boch
Notable paintings
- A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat
- Bathers at Asnières by Georges Seurat
- The Windmills at Overschie by Paul Signac
- Banks of Seine by Georges Seurat
- A Coastal Scene by Théo van Rysselberghe
- Family in the Orchard by Théo van Rysselberghe
- Countryside at Noon by Théo van Rysselberghe
- Afternoon at Pardigon by Henri-Edmond Cross
- Rio San Trovaso, Venice by Henri-Edmond Cross
- The Seine in front of the Trocadero by Henri-Edmond Cross
- The Pine Tree at St. Tropez by Paul Signac
- Opus 217. Against the Enamel of a Background Rhythmic with Beats and Angles, Tones, and Tints, Portrait of M. Félix Fénéon in 1890 by Paul Signac
- The Yellow Sail, Venice by Paul Signac
- Notre Dame Cathedral by Maximilien Luce
- Le Pont De Pierre, Rouen by Charles Angrand
- The Beach at Heist by Georges Lemmen
- Aline Marechal by Georges Lemmen
- Vase of Flowers by Georges Lemmen
- Two Nudes in an Exotic Landscape by Jean Metzinger
Gallery
Contemporary Indigenous Australian art, notably recognized for its "dot painting" style.
- Contemporary Indigenous Australian art, the most well-known style of which is known as "dot painting"
- Halftone
- Klangfarbenmelodie
- Micromontage, a comparable musical technique.
- Pixel art
- Stipple engraving
References
Georges Seurat, 1859–1891: A comprehensive digitized exhibition catalog available through The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries.
- Georges Seurat, 1859–1891, a fully digitized exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries
- Signac, 1863–1935: A complete digitized exhibition catalog accessible via The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries.
- Exhibition catalogue: Dot Dot Dot ... Pointilism and Beyond 1885 - 2018. Jill Newhouse Gallery, 2 November - 10 December 2021.
...