The Life and Work of Georges Seurat

The work of Impressionist painter George Seurat is among the most loved of that era. His work evokes an entirely different feeling than that of his contemporaries based on his interpretation of light and how it affected his subjects.

Have students compare and contrast the work of different Impressionist painters. Students will find the work of Seurat very different from that of Claude Monet and Edgar Degas. Not only should students analyze the styles of the Impressionist artists, but also their subject matter. Have students analyze one of Seurat’s paintings in terms of its style, use of color, subject matter and the countless pencil studies he completed prior to beginning his larger paintings.

Working in pairs, have students conduct a mock interview with Seurat himself. One student can be Seurat (complete in costume, if they choose) while the other partner will serve as the reporter. Videotape the interviews as they will reveal a great deal about Seurat, his inspiration, his motivations and his style.

Teachers seeking to collaborate with their colleagues in the language arts department may choose to have students write skits or a play about Seurat’s beloved painting, "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte." Students may choose to write a character study of one of the individuals in the painting or to write a scene incorporating virtually all of the people and animals in the painting. If you are able to collaborate with colleagues in the theater department, consider staging these skits or plays for a larger audience, complete with costumes and props to make the painting come to life. What follows are more lessons to bring the art of George Seurat alive.

George Seurat Lessons and Activities:

Learning About Pointillism:

This lesson provides students with information about Seurat as an individual and about his artistic style. Students then have the opportunity to create an original work of art in the pointillist style, starting with an image of an apple. This is a great lesson to introduce students to the appropriate terminology and techniques associated with pointillism.

Color Combinations

Students undergo a close investigation and analysis of Seurat’s "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte." They learn about mixing colors and about the science of color perception. Students also explore combinations of primary and secondary colors and how the eye reacts to and sees these combinations. This lesson provides an excellent opportunity for an interdisciplinary lesson and collaboration with colleagues in the science and art departments.

Cartoon Pointillism

Students create a cartoon character using pointillism. Students develop an understanding of the visual and spatial aspects of this style and why it was so challenging for Seurat to paint huge canvases this way.

Techno-Pointillism Pseudo-Seurat

Based on their knowledge of Seurat’s work and pointillism as a style, students use technology to make their own pointillist work of art. Students can find it both interesting and challenging to create a work of art in the pointillist using a computer program as opposed to a paintbrush.