Neo-impressionism

A late 19th-century French art movement, it originated in late 19th century Paris with artist Georges Seurat (1859-1891) and was carried on by Paul Signac (1863-1935). Although sometimes the overall affect was similar to Impressionism, Neo-Impressionism was a marked departure in several ways: The application of paint was done scientifically and precisely by a method of tiny detached strokes of pure color, many of them rounded dots which became known as Pointillism. Its precise technique was the opposite approach of the Impressionists who, in one handling of the canvas, grabbed the 'fleeting moment' of the day with 'slap/dash' strokes. Also the colors on a Neo-Impressionist painting were positioned so that each was featured like a shining light, which again differed markedly from the often murky or 'run together' look of Impressionist painting. Seurat's ideas were much influenced by the writings about color theory of the chemist, Michel Eug??ne Chevreul, early 19th century Director of the Gobelin Tapestry Works. Sources: barewalls.com-Seurat; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Eug??ne_Chevreul; WebMuseum, Paris,Signac.