Began approximately in 1886, Neo-Impressionism explored the science of optics and color to forge a new and methodical technique of painting that avoided the spontaneity that many Impressionists used. Relying on the viewer's capacity to optically blend the dots of color on the canvas, the Neo-Impressionists strove to create more luminous (light based) paintings that depicted modern life. With urban centers growing and technology advancing, the artists sought to capture people's changing relationship with the city and countryside often making a political statement in their works of art. Many artists in the following years adopted the Neo-Impressionist technique of Pointillism, the application of tiny dots of pigment, which opened the door to further explorations of color and eventually abstract art. Neo-Impressionism was led by Georges Seurat, who was its original theorist and most significant artist, and by Paul Signac, also an important artist and the movement's major spokesman. It is worth noting that Seurat never liked the term "Pointillism" thought the public did.
Neo-Impressionism project- For this art movement we will write a political statement and then create a pointillism style work of art to illustrate it. It is worth noting that covering that background with a color before you start would probably be the best approach. Also, you may want to study some of the optical effects of colors that the Neo-Impressionist were so famous for. Unlike Impressionism, the neo-impressionist carefully planned out their layouts to make a statement and so should you.
Student Work-
Each of these student works has a theme and a message, can you pick out what the artist is trying to say?
