NeoImpressionism

Neoimpressionism is a late 19th-century French painting movement that grew out of Impressionism. It was formalized by Georges Seurat and Paul Signac, who sought a more disciplined, scientifically informed approach to color and light than the looser brushwork of earlier Impressionists. The movement took shape during the 1880s and continued to influence artists into the early 20th century.

The core technique, divisionism or pointillism, involved applying small dots or strokes of pure color in close proximity. The colors were intended to blend optically at a distance, producing bright, luminous surfaces. Neoimpressionists drew on contemporary color theory, including the law of simultaneous contrast, and they often planned compositions with careful precision. Large canvases depicting landscapes, cityscapes, and scenes of leisure were common; A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte remains the iconic example.

Beyond Seurat and Signac, a number of French painters—such as Maximilien Luce and Charles Angrand—adopted the method, and the approach influenced other European artists. The movement contributed to ongoing explorations of perception, light, and color within modern art. By the turn of the century, Neoimpressionism gradually gave way to new directions, including Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, and early modern movements, while its emphasis on color theory and systematic technique continued to resonate in art discussions.