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Pointillism is a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of pure color are applied in patterns to form an image. Georges Seurat developed the technique in 1886, branching from Impressionism. The term Pointillism was first coined by art critics in the late 1880s to ridicule the works of these artists, and is now used without its earlier mocking connotation.[1]
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Technique
The technique relies on the ability of the eye and mind of the viewer to mix the color spots into a fuller range of tones. It is related to Divisionism, a more technical variant of the method. Divisionism is concerned with color theory, whereas pointillism is more focused on the specific style of brushwork used to apply the paint.[1] It is a technique with few serious practitioners today, and is notably seen in the works of Seurat, Signac and Cross. However, see also Andy Warhol's early works, and pop art.
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The practice of Pointillism is in sharp contrast to the traditional methods of blending pigments on a palette. Pointillism is analogous to the four-color CMYK printing process used by some color printers and large presses that place dots of Cyan (blue), Magenta (red), Yellow, and Key (black). Televisions and computer monitors use a similar technique to represent image colors using Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) colors.
Neuroplasticity is a key element of observing any pointillistic image. While two individuals would observe the same photons reflecting from a photo-realistic image, someone whose mind has been primed with the theory of pointillism will perceive the image differently as it is interpreted in the visual cortex.[2]
Practice
If red, blue, and green light (the additive primaries) are mixed, the result is something close to white light (see Prism (optics)). Painting is inherently subtractive), but pointillist colours often seem brighter than typical mixed subtractive colors. This may be partly because subtractive mixing of the pigments is avoided, and partly because some of the white canvas may be showing between the applied dots.
The painting technique used for pointillist color mixing is at the expense of the traditional brushwork used to delineate texture.
The majority of pointillism is done in oil paints. Anything may be used in its place, but oils are preferred for their thickness and tendency not to run or bleed.[3]
Music
Pointillism also refers to a style of 20th-century music composition. Different musical notes are made in seclusion, rather than in a linear sequence, giving a sound texture similar to pointillism.[4] This type of music is also known as punctualism or klangfarbenmelodie.
Notable artists
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20101126182636im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/VanGogh_1887_Selbstbildnis.jpg/220px-VanGogh_1887_Selbstbildnis.jpg)
- Georges-Pierre Seurat
- Paul Signac
- Henri-Edmond Cross
- Charles Angrand
- John Roy
- Maximilien Luce
- Vincent van Gogh
- Camille Pissarro
- Théo van Rysselberghe
- Chuck Close
- Georges Lemmen
Notable Paintings
- A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat
- Bathing at Asnieres by Georges Seurat
- The Windmills at Overschie by Paul Signac
- Banks of Seine by Georges Seurat
- Une baignade, Asnières by Georges Seurat
- A Coastal Scene by Theo Van Rysselberghe
- Family in the Orchard by Theo Van Rysselberghe
- Countryside at Noon by Theo 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
- Against the Enamel of Background Rhythmic with Beats and Angels 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
See also
- Neo-Impressionism
- Stippling
- Divisionism
- Punctualism
- Micromontage, similar technique in music
References
- ^ a b "Pointillism ." Artcyclopedia. Artists by Movement. John Malyon/Artcyclopedia,, 2007. Web. http://www.artcyclopedia.com/history/pointillism.html
- ^ Schwartz, Jeffrey M.; Begley, Sharon (2003). The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force. Harper Perennial. pp. 337. ISBN 0060988479.
- ^ Nathan, Solon. "Pointillism Materials." Web. 9 Feb 2010. http://www.si.umich.edu/chico/emerson/pntmat.html
- ^ Britannica - The Online Encyclopedia http://www.britannica.com/
External link
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