Study for "The Channel of Gravelines, Petit Fort Philippe" (Le chenal de Gravelines, Petit-Fort-Philippe), 1890. Georges Seurat. Oil on panel. Gift of Henry W. and Marion H. Bloch.
Working outdoors on this preparatory oil sketch for a larger oil painting, Georges Seurat focused on applying the latest scientific theories about optics and color. He pioneered a technique of methodically placing individual units of pure color side by side. In addition to the dotted style, known as Pointillism, Seurat employed complementary colors (opposites on the color wheel) in pursuit of maximum vibrancy. Here, he used a vivid interplay of complementary blues and oranges to animate his otherwise tranquil harbor view.
