Georges Seurat: Great Art Explained
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- Опубликовано: 11 мар 2023
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Georges Seurat once revealed that he had been ‘interested in finding an optical formula’ for painting since he was just 17 years old.
Seurat spent most of his adult life thinking about colour, studying theories, and working out systematically how one colour, placed in a series of dots, next to those of another, creates a whole different colour when it hits the retina of the human eye. How one colour can make another appear luminous bright, and vibrant.
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I would like to thank all my Patreon supporters, in particular Adriana Nemet, Alan Stewart, Alexander Velser, Alyssa Phillips, Bria Nicole Art, David Asabreu, Christa Sawyer, Eric Mann, Erique K, Griffin Evans, Hugo Moita, Jemma Theivendran, Jennifer Barnaby, Julio Cardenas, Karim Hopper, Kibibi Shaw, Louise Tait, Monte St Johns, New Curiosity, Paul Ark, Paul Waterman, Pavel Juszczyk, Sean Welgemoed, Stephen Beresford, Tanya Moore, Theresa Garfink, Toni Ko, Tyler Wittreich and Will Dew's-Power.
"What a brilliant series this is" - Stephen Fry on Twitter 12 December 2020
SUBTITLES
I input the English subtitles myself but I rely on volunteers to do subtitles for other languages and I really appreciate it - just contact me at jamespayne33@hotmail.com
French subtitles by Ludivine Desriac
Spanish subtitles by Alma Perdomo
CREDITS
Opening Animation and Title Sequence by Brian Adsit (instagram brian_vfx?... and Behance www.behance.com/badsit88)
Chicago footage by Connor Kuhlman and Billie Bowman
Pointillist technique video by the wonderful Anna Li - • Oil Painting Time Laps...
All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and I or this channel do not claim any right over them.
BOOKS
Seurat and the Making of La Grande Jatte by Robert L. Herbert
Tate: Colour: A Visual History by Alexandra Loske
Georges Seurat, 1859-1891: The Master of Pointillism (Taschen Basic Art Series) by Hajo Duchting
Georges Seurat: Drawings & Paintings by Raya Yotova
Georges Seurat by Pierre Courthion
MUSIC
Chopin - Nocturne in E Flat Major (Op. 9 No. 2)
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. 
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Please like and leave a comment, it REALLY helps the channel. Many thanks! James
And subscribe and watch and click and like other comments and reply and donate and screenshot and send link and share and talk about it ;)
James my deah, (yes, we're on a first name basis now. (Joking)) the videos you make are an invaluable service to humankind. I have seen images of this painting before but have no recollection where. Certainly not the original, never having been to Chicago nor having any plans to go there. And that is one of the gifts you bring to people everywhere who will never have the chance to see these magnificent works in person. Brilliant effort, as always. Thank you! 🥂
Extra comment for the algorithm
My comment is: please don't wait so long to post your next piece! I've viewed everything here once or twice and eagerly await more.
Thanks for everything, James. You're the best.
I love art, but it's always been hard for me to understand it - this channel gives me insight into pieces that I disregarded for many reasons, but mostly ignorance. So thank you for this amazing chance at education.
Thanks for watching 🙏
I couldn't agree more! I leaped when I saw there was a new video this week, I have such a renewed passion for art ❤
Agreed, this channel does a great job introducing everyone to art masterpieces! If you'd like to watch longer form docs analyzing great paintings - I'd recommend checking out an early 2000s BBC series - "Private Life of a Masterpiece" (if it's available for streaming in your area). Each 45min episode is a deep dive into a particular work of art (the episode they did for Seurat's Grande Jatte was really interesting; covering not only the painting itself, but also the artist, the cultural context when the painting was created, and the details of the sales-coup that secured the painting for the Art Institute of Chicago - much to the later dismay of France). Other works covered in the series include Rembrandt's the Night Watch, Vermeer's Art of Painting, Brugel's Census at Bethlehem, Van Gogh's Sunflowers - just to name a few ...
Expressed my feelings perfectly.
@@stevemorley Art is more than just like/dislike. I can find something not appealing but it's still valuable to know how it was developed, what the thought process was. I don't find this particular artwork super pretty, but how it was made, the symmetry, color usage, and technique, is an integral part of the artwork that's missed if I'd just think about 'meh don't like it'. This is what I watch this channel for, to understand how artists think.
These videos are so well produced they put professional studios to shame. Beautiful, compelling and the amount of information you manage to get through in a few minutes time and leaves us wanting more. Had only basic idea of pointillism before, and will never look at Seurat's works the same way again. His drawings are mesmerising. So few with facial features, even of his family. The standout being his mistress, who comes across as a complete individual. What a sad life for her as well, losing both him and her child.
I never made that connection but you’re completely right, his mistress is one of the few human figures he depicted with any real sense of humanity
Good point!
Very well said - these videos are a master piece & one might even go so far as to say ‘life changing’. The best bit is the coupe-de-foudre-manner one might chance upon them!
I always knew pointillism would be labourious and time-consuming, but I had no idea how much. This channel is such a treasure!
Thank you 🙏
That was my thought as well…that it took Seurat 3 years to complete this was mind boggling
But...how many hours per day?
I visited it in person several months ago, spending half an hour standing in front of it. It was an extraordinary experience. Worth every penny and second.
Every time I go to The Art Institute of Chicago, I always see this painting and the size and beauty of seeing it so close brings me to tears without fail.
So you must react the same way Cameron did in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
@@YouthFreedomFighters EVERY SINGLE TIME
Lol
Fantastic job explaining Seurat's method and the impact color theory had on his work. The extra time you spent on perfecting this video essay paid off handsomely, I think this is one of your best!
Glad you liked it!
I agree. Very cool to hear about the color theory and the origins of it. I really like this painting. After watching this now thinking about buying a replica for my home.
It's going to be a good day when it starts with a GREAT ART EXPLAINED video in my feed... THANK YOU!
You're very welcome!
You always make something different and still stay loyal to yourself. Never doing anything in a half-done manner. Truly making people learn about art and more importantly make them understand the immense power of art and the artist himself.
“Sunday”…. was one of the few paintings my very active then-toddlers would actually stop and ponder - so much going on, yet so calming.
Thanks for the additional insights and the memory prompt!
I know this painting has always been seen as serene and peaceful, but there is something about it that makes me feel unnerved and on edge. Like something is about to happen, we're witnessing something mysterious and surreal.
Fantastic video as always, informative, concise and amazing!
Thanks 🙏
I find it serene but also harsh. And stiff, but not in a way that stops me from loving it.
I get this comment…like this scene is the beginning of a Hitchcock movie and something crazy is about to happen!
Cameron must've had the same impression when he saw the painting in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
The last bit about Seurat's legacy at around 14:35 brought me to tears. This painting was a labor of love for art and theory and I'm so glad we are all able to experience it.
Thanks for another great video James!
Glad you enjoyed it
One of my favorite scenes in Ferris Bueller! The little girl in white tells Cameron exactly what he needs to do in that moment with his father. The rest of the movie is him getting to the point where he can listen to her.
Nighthawks is also in this scene!
A very powerful scene. I've always regarded La Grand Jatte as a painting about loneliness and social isolation, possibly echoing ideas of Marxist alienation. The little girl is a powerful symbol, speaking to Cameron of his own loneliness, trapped by the empty materialism of his father.
I studied at history in college, but it didn't prepare me for seeing this painting in person (and many others). It is breathtakingly beautiful.
I grew up in Chicago and spent many, many days in the galleries of The Art Institute. Of course, one of the cornerstones is A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. Learning about this artwork is so deeply fascinating and has made me very nostalgic for those days gone by. Thank you very much for another incredible video
One of the many reasons I love Ferris Beuller's day off.
Another excellent film. What really impressed me was the fact I came here for Seurat but learnt about Chevreul as well as how art was being thought of during the 19th century, 70 - 100 years before world wars would ravage Europe.
This is one of my favorite channels
Extra credit for releasing this video on a Sunday.
Sunday Afternoon even. Thanks for noticing!
Ofc the musical Sunday In the Park with George was how I was introduced to this work. Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters captured aspects of their affair so sublimely. So romantic!
Cameron Fry loves this painting, and so do I!
When I was in art school as a teenager, I was so fascinated by the fact how a series of dots could bring a painting to life. Thanks for this video, it helped with gaining more insights about Seurat and this painting!
Love your point of view on this one... Seriously, whenever you say, "...but I disagree" I know I'm about to see the art work in a way that I haven't seen it before, discover an idea in it I hadn't encountered before and feel closer to understanding it's true meaning and importance in the history of Art. Thanks for another outstandingly well written and presented video.
Thanks for the comment!
To me, the painting reflects Seurat's personality and the way he lived his life. Very removed from others with little communication as well as everything being neatly compartmentalized and separated. A very interesting video! Thank you.
Another fascinating study that goes far deeper than the painting on the canvas. Thank you.
Looking at Seurat's paintings is like a reflection of being in his presence. You may observe, but you are not invited to participate.
Another magnificent work James! I learn and enjoy so much from your videos. As a novice, one part that really made an impression on me was when you said: “Meaning is not so important…the lack of narrative means we really should look to the artist’s obsession with form, technic and theory”. It totally made sense once i understood the context of Seurat’s times, the invention of the color wheel and his almost scientific approach to his art. Thanks again!!
Incredible patience and dedication to this artwork and makes me appreciate it even more. I didn't realise how large it actually is, only really seeing it in art books. I love how he put a little butterfly in it - probably originally attracted to the lady with the posy of flowers. Great video, thanks for your work, look forward to more when you are ready🎨.
Thank you!
My dad had this in the dining room my entire childhood until now too. Great memory and crazy how I actually have a full context now. These vids are always so friggin good, literally check for them daily
This video is a Great reminder of how much time and how deep an artist has to dive in order to create Great Art.
This is possibility the most informed, yet concise, comprehensive account of the genesis, significance and varied interpretations of this proto-modern masterpiece that I've yet encountered in any forum or medium -in short a superb analysis.
i consistently watch everything that you post. sometimes when it’s 2am at a party, i’ll throw your videos on and get everyone immersed. i really love the amount of detail and effort that goes into each one!
I can't begin to explain the impact this painting has had on my life (consumed in conjunction with of course Sondheim's Sundays in the Park with George) and although I've read so much about Seurat's technique this video does such a phenomenal job of piecing it altogether to commandeer respect for someone who so ardently stood by the science of art and could turn it into an emotion regardless of whether you feel it or not. I came across this painting as I was turning 25 and just learned from this video that Seurat was 25 when he painted it which feels so serendipitous. Incredibly in awe of this video and the painting - ty for all your work on this!
Even if this isn't my favourite piece of art, I watched with interest the video because every time you publish a new video I know I'm going to learn something new and you have a special way to explain art that make me walk INTO the paint and feel like I'm part of it.
Plus, I'm an Italian native speaker and your videos have an huge impact on my English improvement.
Thanks for your hard work!
This is my favorite painting of the Impressionism and post-Impressionism eras. It is mysteriously captivating.
You've brought both the painting and artist to life in such an engaging way. No dry "artspeak" here! And the animation is simply brilliant! Bravo!
I’m from Chicago and love seeing this painting every time I go to the art institute. Thanks for the video !
The comment about the figures looking more simmilar to statues really changed my perspective on this painting. Excellent video, as always
Thank you for this study and for bringing art to a new level of understanding and appreciation for me.
My pleasure!
Just wanted to say how much I love how you present these videos, almost having an intimate conversation with the viewer. Please keep them coming!
I've seen this painting in Chicago many years ago. If only I had known then, what I know now! Thank you so very much, James, for this video and all your knowledge about art history, the artist Seurat and this painting in particular! Even though it's always nice to dive into a painting without knowing anything about it and let it talk to you, knowing some bits and pieces of behind the scenes can make you fall in love with it even more.
You are very welcome
Great video. One small edit - Ferris Bueller was released in 1986, not 1897 (10:11 mark).
This painting is a favorite of mine. I didn't know why, but when his processes and techniques are explained they tie very directly into how my mind works.
I can thank watching Ferris Bueller’s Day Off as a kid in the 80’s for sparking my curiosity about this piece…
Thank you for yet another beautiful explanation… 🙏🏼
the color and the light, the geometry, so pure in this painting. So much love for it. "Sunday, by the blue, purple yellow red water, by green purple yellow red grass, let us pass, through our perfect park, pausing on a Sunday, by the cool, blue triangular water, on the soft, green elliptical grass, let us pass, through arrangements of shadows, towards the verticals of trees...forever. By the blue, purple yellow red water, on green orange violet mass - of the grass, in our perfect park, made of flecks of light, and dark, and parasols (bum bum bum, bum bum bum bum bum bum), people strolling through the trees, of a small suburban park, on an island in the river, on an ordinary Sunday" Steve Sondheim, one artist to another, bearing witness to the glory all around, and distilling it for all to enjoy, forever. Steve's greatest work, too, inspired by this painting.
I love the pace and vibe of your videos. excellent balance of info without being condescending. I wish you had hundreds of videos I'd watch them all.
More to come!
The famed artist might have been sent by God to capture the art in their mind on the empty canvas,
Great warriors might have been sent to fight and achieve glory,
Great leaders might have been sent to guide the nations,
And amidst all this perhaps I'm also sent by God for some special reason and also those who all are reading this,
I guess every individual is sent for some special purpose or some work of God.
But my friend James,
What I feel,
You have been specially sent to explain the art through this channel across millions of minds.
To enlighten us with the facts which are present out there but still far from reach.
But you, becoming the medium for us fewer illiterate but passionate lovers of art.
I wish you all the strength, love, and support for this work that you are doing.
Very very much thank you for your efforts and hard work including your team if there are any.
Bless you! and Thank you once again!
I pray to God that you achieve all your desired success.
Thank you so much!
What I'm taking from this video is that with Seurat, it's not necessarily just the plot of the story but the language used (but the plot is still really carefully thought out and pretty clever too) - very cool and very much food for thought!
Fascinating! I learn something with every episode of this series. James Payne does a fabulous job of explaining and pointing out techniques, history, and each artist's individualism. These are great and I particularly enjoyed this one on George Seurat. Thank you for teaching me more about art.
I always hoped I would see a video on this painting
Hope you enjoy it!
For most of my life, when visiting a gallery, I would look first at the painting's description before viewing it at all. Interpretations of the world need context to create their full impact: these videos provide that.
Fascinating.
I had been pondering purchasing a print of La Grande Jatte. After watching this video, I decided to proceed - it arrives tomorrow and I'm excited.
Being from Chicago I’ve seen this painting many times. I completely agree that the painting is endlessly intriguing and excitingly optimistic.😢 Thank you for your impeccable analysis.
I am drawn to the trees...The interplay between the green and yellow, gives them an animated quality. There is a buzzing quality and a sense of motion, in a motionless, emotionless painting.
This is my favorite work of art. It took 50+ years to get back to see it.Thank you for this explanation. Fascinating. And now a subscriber.
I saw this delightful Seurat painting in person at The Art Institute of Chicago and always wondered how this museum acquired it. Thank you for sharing!
I highly recommend these short videos, they are very objective, not much that one could argue about. These videos include and highlight the minimum information that is needed to understand Why in that era, Why in this way, Why about this topic. Ultimately, what makes this piece of art outstanding. Thank you James for your work!
What a lovely sunday treat!
I’m so glad to see you on my recommended again!!!
Learned about all these art pieces in high school but didn’t appreciate them until your videos. ❤
I love it! Didn't real the labour of this painting until you mentioned it's size a lot later into the video. When it was mentioned that the first layer and the second layer both took him an year each, i thought that he was just been meticulous with his brush. But then you said- "2m*3m" and it all made sense why.
By the way, i think your voice has magic in it. Because how else could i become so interested in something so far removed from my daily life. Treasure it sire, you deserve everything you desire!
My favorite channel right now!
I can't help but think of the musical and the character of Dot! Wow!!!
The more I learn about this painting the more I’m blown away by it. Like others, I’ve seen this in person at the Art Institute of Chicago and honestly photos of it don’t do it justice.
Narration, knowledge, animation, editing, everything is absolutely phenomenal! This is premium content available for free, it's incredible
Glad you enjoy it!
Ganz wunderbar - die unterschiedlichen Schichten von Idee, Ausführung, Gedanke, Aussage, Möglichkeit, Konstruktion, Technik und Schicksal hervorragend zusammengeführt! Stillstand ist auch Bewegung!
I love how the isolated lives of Seurat is reflected in La Grand Jette. Made me appreciate color theory too. And thank you for including a bit on how it ended up in Chicago!
Every single upload in this channel makes me incredibly happy. Thank you with all my heart!
It is truly inspiring to stand in front of this painting in the Art Institute. To see it up close and to slowly move away is breathtaking.
The Art Institute is now a mandatory stop my next visit to Chicago!!
Fascinating stuff, especially the ‘point’ made about the girl in the white dress at the center of the painting.
Thank you for your videos.
Glad you like them!
I saw the painting in Chicago 20 years ago and have been fascinated with Seurat ever since. I later lived in Prague for years and visited the National Gallery often to see one of his paintings there (plus Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, Rodin, Gauguin, Cézanne, Renoir, Schiele, Munch, Miró and Klimt). Wonderful times.
My favorite painting but only after seeing it in person. It’s impossible to fully appreciate from pictures where you can’t see the thousands of dots. Great work and thank you for the explanation.
My favorite channel right now! I cant find any other great art channels right now. Thank you for doing what you do, this is very educational and entertaining :)
Thank you so much 😀
@@GreatArtExplained Of course, my favorites are the Starry Night and Mona Lisa episodes, I hope you do more with Van Gogh and Leonardo!
This channel is at the top of my list right now
Thank you for all the work you put into your videos. I especially appreciate the visual markers over the art when you are talking about the leading lines or the positioning of objects/people and the color examples. All of it adds to the ease of understanding the concepts and helps me to view other art with these elements in mind.
Glad you like them!
Another brilliant expose of an iconoclastic artist. I like the way you have interwoven his personal life with his artistic production. the intro is perfect ...
Thank you 🙏
These videos are always little pieces of pure culture that seem to crop up just when I need them. Really well made and extremely interesting! Thanks :)
Its so interesting to me that there was a time where new color theories were a hot new thing. thanks for all your great videos. i enjoy watching them a lot.
I love these videos! Seurat really made a great impression on me in my childhood, I was inspired by him to make pontilism in my art classes.
Thank you for always speaking about the artist's life, rather than just the famous painting. Helps to give so much deeper meaning and context behind the works!
I never had the words to explain why I never felt an emotional connection with this painting despite loving many other impressionist works. Thanks for helping me articulate that it is an intellectual not an emotional piece
Another absolutely fantastic video! I've always considered myself as someone who is very drawn into art but knows absolutely nothing about it. These videos have done so much to help deepen my appreciation of the great works of art that I've always known were great but couldn't say at all why. Thank you for the incredible work you do, James. It feels like this channel should be a college course and not a series of free videos! We are truly spoiled with such high quality content.
Wow, thank you!
The text, the images, the transitions and the introduction, everything is perfect💖
Really worth the wait
I went to the Art Institute for the first time on Sunday and this painting is utterly STUNNING in person.
Wow, what a wonderful video, James! Your words at the end were really moving, thank you so much for producing videos that are so informative yet so full of love and appreciation. I love the way I feel more educated and emotional after seeing your videos. You are touching so many hearts of art lovers❤
Thanks for the comment 🙏
It’s really neat how in some ways this painting may represent the best of the science of human perception of art. Also, Brilliant looks cool I’m gonna check it out 🎉
Thanks 🙏
Well I’m part of that painting. As a freshman at the Chicago art institute, I would take go sit in front of it day after day. It’s huge. It’s vibrating. Very cool stuff. You can’t understand it until you see it in real life. Anyway that was 1986. I learned to paint. Art is the best education, in an abstract way it’s the only education. Observation, stimulation, expression that communicates within us and then after completion, communicates without us.
besides the love of art itself, I actually use your videos for my students (I'm an English tutor). I think they are outstanding in teaching them how to dig into an argument and reach great insights in a well-structured manner. So as an educator and a lover of art, thank you so much!
A Great Sunday explained, a new art video by you. Thanks
How lovely, I was just reading about how the chemistry of the dye workshops was pivotal in the discovery of modern medicines. Apparently the chemist was trying to visual cells better with the color but happened upon some great discoveries.
I love this painting, truly something that must be seen in person to appreciate. I never knew about Seurat's relationship with his father. It's hard not to think about that cold, formal, distance when looking at the painting.. I also can never get Sondheim out of my head whenever I see it lol.
You always have me googling flights to go see the great art in person!
After watching this video, watched sunday in the park with george on youtube (with the stunning Bernadette Peters). So glad I watched this first.
My six-year-old grandson saw "La Grand Jatte" in this video and said "I know that painting!" I'm so proud. 😊
I was never interested in art more than thinking the painting is nice. But the background stories, thought, details about all these haveu really drawn me into it. Thanks so much! Always nice to see a video being uploaded.
Informative and interesting. I am always immersed in your videos. It has become a joy for me to look forward to your contents.
Wow, thank you!
Dear James, you bring superb insight to all the artworks you highlight in such a concise and approachable way. I love art, had some formal training in painting but never took any art history classes. Thank you for all the effort you put into these video essays.
Always a pleasure to see a new work
This channel taught be how to appreciate art, I’ll never forget that
This video just put the musical "Sunday in the Park with George" into SO MUCH perspective.
I’m in awe of this channel. Exceptional quality. Never understood art so well. I saw this painting in an exhibition in Paris ages ago, and the explanations there were not half as clear, educational, and interesting as yours here. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Love the intro! For a moment thought Kusama had crashed the party.
Love! One of my favourites when we lived near Chicago