Pointillism in painting: history, description of the method. The most famous representatives of Pointillism

The 19th and 20th centuries were rich in new directions in art. Artists have experimented a lot, looking for new expressive forms and possibilities. And as a result of such searches, pointillism appeared in painting. Let's talk about what its specificity is, who invented it and who particularly distinguished itself in this style.

Term meaning

The name of the style "pointillism" comes from the French word "dot". From the same word occurs, for example, the name of ballet shoes - pointes. The name is associated with the peculiarities of fine art. Pointillism in painting, thus, can be designated as a "point" style.

The history of Pointillism

In the late 19th century, French artists conducted active research in the field of theory, physics and color psychology. They wanted to find tools that would maximally allow the author to convey his intention and emotional message to the viewer. The chemical theory of the color of Eugene Chevrel about the mutual influence of different colors on each other and Ogden Rud's physical theory of the mixing of colors gave impetus to new experiments and searches. Also at this time there are big arguments about the psychology of color, its symbolism and its influence on the psycho-emotional state of a person. All these scientific studies led to the fact that artists are starting to approach the picturesque technique in a new way. At this time, the Impressionists were actively exploring the possibilities of paints for the transmission of light and air and water. They tried to convey a momentary, lively sense of the movement of natural elements. Classical technology did not give them such an opportunity. As a result of searches and experiments in 1885 there is pointillism in painting. What is the peculiarity of this style?

The method and technique of pointillism in painting

Already the name of the style speaks about the peculiarities of the manner of writing. The artist writes in small square strokes. The movement of his brush resembles the light flutter of a butterfly, which only touches the canvas for a moment and again breaks away from it. But the essence of the method is not only in the special imposition of the paint layer on the surface of the canvas. The search for special effects on the viewer gave rise to pointillism in painting. How to draw to convey the beauty of the moment of nature and the feeling from the moment that the artist experienced? This is the main question that the painters asked themselves in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. French artists, influenced by scientific discoveries in the theory of color and light, and also through the discovery of photography, which recorded the moment of being, began to experiment with the imposition of paints on the canvas. And pointillism was one of the options for new technology. Paints in this style did not mix on the palette, as was customary in classical painting, but were superimposed in the original form in small strokes. And a number always side by side contrasting, according to the coloristic circle, tone. Red overlapped next to green, yellow - with blue, etc. This allowed the eye to perceive a lively sense of air and light. At the perception of the picture, the human eye itself made a mixture of colors, and a multicolored product was obtained. The technique of pointillism is very complicated and laborious. It is similar in its decorativeness and laboriousness with mosaic. But the artists did not intimidate such a volume of work, as he allowed to solve the artistic task.

Founders

In 1885 a new style appeared in painting - pointillism, his birth is connected, first of all, with the name of the French artist Georges Sulfur. He was disappointed in the classical picturesque manner and sought to find his handwriting. For this he actively studied scientific works on the theory of color. He was greatly influenced by the already mentioned work on physics and chemistry, as well as Charles Blanc's study of color. Sulfur resolutely refused the impressionistic approach to painting, based on an instantaneous sensation. He believed that the artist must proceed from scientific discoveries. The creator, in his opinion, should not rely on inspiration or momentary sensation, but should carefully calculate each step based on psychophysiological and physical knowledge. His discoveries in the field of color science, the artist first formulated in the theory of chromoluminarism, and later justified a new approach - divisionism or pointillism. In 1884-86 he wrote a huge canvas, which later became very famous - "A Sunday afternoon on the island of Grand Jat." Its size - two by three meters, was designed for perception at a distance. The work became a classic pointillism. Unfortunately, Sera did not manage to fully develop his theory and implement it in his works, he died at a young age, and in the future the direction is connected with the name of his pupil, the former impressionist Paul Signac.

Painters-pointillists

It was Signac who brought the theory to the absolute and told the world what pointillism is in painting. Pictures-reproductions of his works appeared in magazines and on postcards, as they were very decorative and unusual. Signac not only wrote and in his paintings brought pointillism to perfection, but also created a serious theoretical work "From Eugene Delacroix to Neo-Impressionism", which became a kind of textbook for artists of this direction. The artist was mainly engaged in writing landscapes, and dot technique allows him to achieve incredible atmospheric and airiness. Also, Signac experimented in graphics and in black and white painting. The success and unusual effect of works in the style of pointillism attracted the attention of other outstanding painters. In the point technique, Camille Pissarro worked at the end of his life, Van Gogh tried his powers in this technique. Famous pointillists were S. Angrand, M. Luce, T. van Reiselberg, A. Loje, A. E. Cross. This style has not lost its relevance to this day. But there was no such mass pointillism as at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The most famous modern pointillists are Benjamin Laading and Miguel Endara.

Pointillist works

Classical pointillism in painting is represented by the works of Georges Sere: Circus, Ships at Sea, Bathers in Asnieres and Paul Signac: Harbor in Marseille, Breakfast, Venice, Pink Cloud. As well as the experimental works of Van Gogh "The Sower and the Sunset", A. Matisse "Parrot Tulips", paintings by K. Pissarro "Hampton", "Haymaking in Eranji", "Children in the yard of the manor." Today, works in this technique are masterpieces, for which museums and collectors hunt. After all, such paintings are few, and they are real rarities.