Georges Seurat

Georges-Pierre Seurat was born in Paris, France on December 2,1859 and died on March 29,1891 at the age of 31. He was a painter who spent his life studying color theories. He developed a style of painting known as Pointillism. Pointillism is a form of painting in which tiny dots of primary-colors are used to generate secondary colors. His magnificent pointillist pieces are what made him the famous artist that he is today.


One of his large works, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” is his most famous painting. It catches a moment in time. The result is all of Paris out on a stroll - 48 people, 8 boats, 3 dogs, one monkey - and if you can catch it, a butterfly.

Seurat made more than 50 studies before completing the painting that took two years to finish. This painting altered the direction of modern art by initiating an art period known as Neo-impressionism, and it is one of the icons of 19th century painting. You can see it at the Art Institute of Chicago.