Figures in a Landscape c. 1883

Georges Seurat made this oil on panel painting, Figures in a Landscape, using small, distinct dots of color. This technique, known as pointillism, was Seurat’s method of capturing the optical effects of light and color as perceived by the human eye. The way Seurat applied paint is crucial to the painting's significance. The dots, seemingly uniform, were carefully placed and layered to build up form and texture. The repetitive and meticulous application of paint in this manner echoes the industrial processes that were transforming society at the time. With the rise of factories and mass production, Seurat's labor-intensive technique can be seen as both a reflection of, and a commentary on, the changing nature of work. By focusing on materials, making, and the social context in which the work was produced, we can appreciate its full meaning and challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.