Sunset at Ambletsuse 1899

Theo van Rysselberghe painted Sunset at Ambleteuse using oil on canvas, with a meticulous technique called pointillism. It’s all about the labor here. Think about it: each tiny dot of paint was individually applied. This wasn't just about capturing a fleeting moment, but about process itself. Van Rysselberghe adopted this method from Georges Seurat, who developed it based on scientific theories of color and perception. Now, consider the social context. Pointillism emerged during a period of rapid industrialization, and can be seen as both a reflection of, and a reaction against, the efficiency of factory production. The almost mechanical application of paint creates an image from discrete parts, an analogy to the division of labor in factories. Yet, it also required intensive, individual work, in contrast to the alienation felt by many industrial workers. Ultimately, Sunset at Ambleteuse asks us to think about the relationship between art, labor, and the changing world, challenging the traditional distinction between the hand-made and the machine-made.