The Tugboat, Canal in Samois 1901

Paul Signac made this painting, "The Tugboat, Canal in Samois" from small dots of oil paint in varying colors. Signac was interested in how a composition assembled from discrete marks can create an image, and the way a viewer’s eye blends colors. This technique, known as pointillism, required rigorous planning and immense patience, as each dot had to be carefully placed to achieve the desired effect. Look closely, and you'll see that the subject matter, too, is intimately connected to the working world. Barges, canals, and tugboats were essential to industrial transportation, and laborers are depicted throughout the scene. The painting, built from so many individual marks, echoes the coordinated effort required to operate such a complex system of trade. Signac has managed to create a vibrant, shimmering scene reflecting the labor and industry that underpinned modern life. By considering the process of its creation, we can appreciate how the artist linked aesthetic innovation with the social realities of his time.