The Lovers 

Henri Martin created "The Lovers," using oil on canvas, its date unspecified. Notice how the composition is structured around a horizontal axis, with the riverbank and buildings providing a stable backdrop to the figures in the foreground. Martin employs a divisionist technique, applying small dots of color that blend optically, creating a shimmering effect, and a sense of movement within the painting’s surface. This technique embodies a semiotic system where each dot acts as a signifier, contributing to the overall signified image. The texture, built from these countless points of color, destabilizes a conventional reading of the scene. The figures, while central, do not dominate; instead, they integrate into the broader landscape. The artist engages with new ways of thinking about space and perception, challenging fixed meanings within the representation of landscape and human form. The painting invites ongoing interpretations about the relationship between individuals and their environment.