View of the Seine 1882 - 1883

Georges Seurat created this oil on canvas painting called "View of the Seine". The painting immediately strikes us with its fragmented brushstrokes and muted palette, creating a hazy atmosphere that softens the urban landscape. Seurat was deeply invested in optical theories and the science of color. We see this in his deliberate application of paint, where small strokes of color are placed side by side, encouraging the viewer’s eye to blend them. The composition, divided horizontally by the river, balances the industrial elements on the horizon with the natural fluidity of the water, reflecting the changing relationship between nature and industry in late 19th-century France. The reflections on the water’s surface are particularly intriguing, composed of dashes of contrasting colors that capture the movement and light with scientific precision. This method invites us to question the nature of perception and the way we construct visual reality from fragmented sensory input.