Georges Seurat - Sunday Afternoon on the Grande Jatte Explained: The Story behind Great Paintings

[@ciaobella8963]

I have seen this painting and its print many times over the years, including one of his studies in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, but I never saw the border, nor did I know that it should be viewed from the right at an angle. Interesting. Thank you!

[@QueenBee-gx4rp]

Janice Patricia Same here-most interesting! Now the figures on the right make sense!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Really pleased you have enjoyed the video. Seurat is an underrated painter. Cheers

[@michaellynch2800]

me have never seen the monkey before, haha monkee

[@tradcatholic]

Seurat was never a favorite of mine but loving to learn more about him. I can more appreciate his works now. Thank you for your schooling 🤓

[@ArtHistorySchool]

My pleasure! Really pleased you enjoyed my video. Cheers

[@okgoodness1709]

After watching Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim, I have learned to appreciate this painting by Seurat even more.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

That's great

[@derdani1441]

Brilliant and concise analysis, kept me interested throughout!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

That's great, glad you enjoyed it

[@59jaguar]

Perfectly concise . Thanks for explaining all of the nuances.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Really pleased you enjoyed it. Cheers

[@59jaguar]

Artist in School can’t remember where I had seen his work but I was fascinated by all of the dots of color and precisely the perspective of it when viewing . Really enjoy your series of these videos as Iam in th return to painting myself now that the virus pandemic has taken hold of our lives. Cheers

[@gennydavidsonsmith85]

Fascinating to find out more about this iconic painting. Thank you for posting.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

You are very welcome. Glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers

[@albertgrant1017]

My favorite artist .

[@ArtHistorySchool]

That's great. Cheers

[@jeanross7430]

Thank you for the great insight into the painting.😊

[@ArtHistorySchool]

You are so welcome!

[@lavolka]

I can't get enough of your videos! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with us.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you like them! Thank you. Cheers

[@davidwilliams8405]

I'll never forget the first time I saw this painting at the Chicago Art Institute. I had just finished my first year at the Cleveland Institute of Art, and we had finished freshman art history at the Baroque/Rococo period. I just looked and studied and looked at that painting, I guess giving me a head start at the upcoming sophomore art history next fall. When I first visited the National Gallery in London I had the same feeling, bordering on the obsessive the first time I saw "The Bathers at Asnières!'

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Yes, it is a very impressive work. If you are particularly interested in this period the place to visit is the Musee D'Orsay in Paris, probably one of the most impressive art galleries in the world.

[@chewie1644]

This was excellent, I’ve viewed this painting 50 times in person and now I can’t wait to see it again!!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

That's great, I hope you see it with new eyes!

[@joandugan2083]

thank you for the analysis of this painting. I will look at it differently from now on.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Wonderful! That's great. Cheers

[@abenojarjeceliev.7714]

my teacher in arts appreciation already discussed about this painting,and after watching your video I've learned more deeper meaning about this painting. thank you sir!😊

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thank you so much 😀 Cheers

[@sergioeisen7868]

Clear ,dinamic and didactict .Excelent work ,it stimulate enjoy art and apreciation .Thank you from Argentina

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Really pleased you enjoyed my video, cheers from England

[@brianivory405]

Your work is genius. You love ART and it shows.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thank you so much 😀

[@tonycrawford7742]

you have opened my mind. thank you.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

My pleasure. Cheers

[@teresagoncalves4077]

Gracias , cambió mi forma de ver y apreciar esta hermosa pintura que siempre me ha cautivado

[@ArtHistorySchool]

De nada, me alegro de que hayas disfrutado el video.

[@shirleykathan-sayess5764]

Fascinating! I had no idea about this being painted to be seen at an angle. Thank you! ❤️ Shirley

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Really pleased you enjoyed the video. Cheers

[@MichelleRichee]

This was absolutely marvelous, particularly the surprise ending!! Thank you so much for sharing.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers

[@timdanyo898]

The perspective shift is incredible. I never knew that!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Yes, it's fascinating. Cheers

[@5t4n5]

Thanks for this. I love Seurat, especially his noir stuff, it's what got me into art.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Cheers. He was a great artist.

[@davidwilliams8405]

Thanks for the heads up, definitely on my Art Bucket List!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Sounds good

[@photo7839]

Great work to you.... I took Art History in college.. I nearly lost it.. thanks for being a great and precise to the point educator. I wish I had you in college.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Wow, thank you! Much appreciated. Cheers

[@MarxMark]

Recently visited AIC and saw the painting but wish I would have watched this first. Great video! Learned a lot! Thank you.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad it was helpful! Cheers

[@michellet204]

Thanks Paul I enjoyed learning about this fascinating painting even deeper!!!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@seescafedeu]

Uau! Nice to learn so many things in a small video. Thanks a lot.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

You are very welcome

[@JimsCorner]

One of my favorite paintings of all time. Excellent documentary and analysis. Much appreciated.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers

[@traceycrossman1295]

A refreshing insight into this wonderful painting. Thank you.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Really pleased you enjoyed it. Cheers

[@monicaalexandrova927]

I like the painting because I find it very realistic. I myself enjoy being outside, among people, enjoying e scenic view. I really don't know why exactly do I like this painting so much, but it is just calming for the eye. Maybe because of the fainted colours it seems so tranquil.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you like it

[@danieladeutsch1708]

Sir, you are brilliant! Thanks to your channel (and I am writing notes from all of your videos) I have started to see art with a diffrenet view (better said: views). Thank you so much for your excellent knowledge and for sharing it with us.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Wow, you are very welcome. Cheers

[@MiiPaintings]

I honestly loooove all of your videos. Thank you for doing such an amazing job in making these videos. You are amazing teacher

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Wow, thank you!

[@AnotherVoice-jp1kj]

Thank you for this, like others, I didn't know about viewing this painting from the side. Seurat was amazing, it is truly tragic that he died so young. Perhaps my most favourite painting, by any artist, is Une Baignade Asnières. It would be great if you could do a video about this.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you enjoyed the video, I'll have a think about your suggestion.

[@enjoyeverythingskydremer3153]

Really fantastic sir.... please give us more and more classes through the video.🙏🙏🙏

[@ArtHistorySchool]

I will try my best

[@joesmith-gc7wq]

Absolutely Wonderful. I just love all the detail. I had the opportunity to work at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. They have Pinkie and Blue boy. Best time of my life. Thanks for all the detailed information Im glued to my chair.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

That's brilliant, really pleased you enjoyed the video. Cheers from England

[@carla3410]

Thanks Paul. Very interesting video.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Gamble661]

I've always loved this painting although I've never been able to say exactly why. A large print (not as large as the original) currently hangs in my study, I never tire of looking at it. I'd never heard the theories about some of the figures though and found them fascinating. I've always looked at the woman in the right foreground as a upper class young Parisian woman with her husband....I think I prefer that to the theory postulated here.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

I think you have to understand Parisien culture during the 19th century. Signals given were subtle and could be read by those who wanted to read them.

[@shuvechhabose2892]

So Informative and interesting video. Thanks for sharing it

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rachelaugusto5860]

Beautifully researched and presented! Congrats!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nicolelazotravel]

Great breakdown. Thank you.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad it was helpful! Cheers

[@captainawsomeist]

This is a great video, thank you for the lesson!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad it was helpful! Cheers

[@carolcrane6893]

Love your style of story telling. Always learn something new about my favorite artists. Thanks.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

My pleasure!

[@jasonmelvin9102]

Just visited this weekend, wish i would've watched this video beforehand

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@enjoyeverythingskydremer3153]

I m an artist sir , and I never go abroad from India but I see many Western paintings. Because wold largest museum and largest galleries are in my hand. But I know one day I'll go abroad from my country. So sir ur videos are more useful for me. Thank you🙏🙏🙏.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

You are very welcome. I hope you make it to Europe and Britain one day.

[@enjoyeverythingskydremer3153]

@@ArtHistorySchool sure sir...one day I'll....

[@cara9592]

I really appreciate this series, I hope you continue this! I grew up in Illinois and remember this painting at the Art Institute downtown. I cannot wait to view it again after watching this. Thank you

[@ArtHistorySchool]

I will continue, there will be another video soon

[@alisturkericmacnanty159]

WOW! FACINATING!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Cheers

[@zsuzsablom6256]

Brilliant presentation!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thank you

[@VictorCharlesEvans]

Well done Paul another brilliant video!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@margaritadvorsky4142]

you're an inspiration Paul, thank you so much for this video!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

I appreciate that!

[@jamesp.tenney3874]

The perspective from the side reminds me of holbein’s ambassadors and its skull in the foreground. Enjoyable way to begin each day.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Yes, it does. It's an interesting idea.

[@francoiselhopiteau7239]

Instructif, merci

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Cheers

[@elizabethhestevold1340]

One off the most underrated Artist, likely the main force behind Impressionist. His leaning toward color effect on color alignments, how one color visual effect another. Mainly eliminating, under coat off shades prior . Color mix , a prelude to Virtual digtialize color pigment algorithms. Way ahead off his time. Yellow is even digital a problem. Which can be done with by a tiny dab of Red. 👀❤️🦅🗽🤗🇩🇰🇺🇸🎨🖌️

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Yes, Seurat was a Divisionist, not an Impressionist, in the sense he tended to work in his studio, not outside, en plein air.

[@summerscripture]

Amazing!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@mariamaragonesjust2150]

Me encanto !!lo volvere a ver,muchas gracias !!😍

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Eres muy bienvenido

[@MaoRuiqi]

OMG! you are fantastic!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thank you! 😃

[@timothyhopkins6960]

Fascinating, thank you for bringing it to me.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@pinkcloud3126]

I'm so happy you've changed your intro from 'young artists and amateur artists' to 'everybody'! Mainly because I wasn't part of that first target group!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Yes, the target audience is more adult that it was before. Cheers

[@velocitygirl8551]

Thank you so much!!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

You're welcome!

[@movietheatremusic]

Thank you so much for the wonderful and detailed explanation! I enjoy very much this way of teaching! Thank you for that :)

[@ArtHistorySchool]

You're very welcome!

[@hrivera4201]

A genius how he separate the blue of the river and the green of the grass with those figures with orange tones at the river shore. Thanks for the video.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@jasmin0930]

Wonderful video and so interesting how much thought went into it. Thank you for focusing on a painting I enjoy very much and now know so much more about thanks to you 🙏🏼❤️😁

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers

[@edepillim]

Excellent talk.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thank you, glad you liked it. Cheers

[@brogirlia7233]

Thank you for this video

[@ArtHistorySchool]

My pleasure

[@nicholasgilbert-student5287]

Really good analysis and the insight into the painting was quite fascinating.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Really pleased you enjoyed the video. Cheers

[@yonathanasefaw9001]

Thanks for uploading this, pretty interesting, I am learning art history so I want to learn as much as I can a about art.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you enjoyed it!. Check out my channel kzbin.info Cheers

[@lincasey248]

This was awesome! Ty!!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers

[@abhiramtilak2389]

You have thrown light upon a new perspective... awesome video... thanks for increasing our knowledge... with best regards - Abhiram Tilak here from Pune... India ...

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thank you for your kind comments. Cheers from England

[@andrewfrost8866]

Absolutely fascinating!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thank you, much appreciated. Cheers

[@pmo8672]

Very informative, interesting and entertaining - I always learn something new with your videos. Thank you very much!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad to hear it! Thanks

[@neuzasantiago]

Thanks for this video

[@ArtHistorySchool]

You are welcome

[@billmclaren4373]

Very good and informative...

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you liked it. Cheers

[@prathapmv2777]

Nice and l enjoyed this story 👍

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@sakeenaali4079]

Such great info. Thank you for telling us.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

My pleasure, it's wonderful to know that my videos are appreciated. Cheers

[@anacletwilliams8315]

This afternoon I went for a walk on the island of the Grande Jatte. It was a pity I did not see any painter whatsoever. And the island looks very different today from Seurat's painting.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

The painting was painted near 150 years ago, so not surprising I suppose

[@anacletwilliams8315]

@@ArtHistorySchool I wasn't exactly expecting to meet Seurat in person. But still, it is a pity I did not see any painters. Don't you think so?

[@amah.vanniarachchy4334]

Brilliant!!!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Cheers

[@amah.vanniarachchy4334]

@@ArtHistorySchool your explanation about this painting was brilliant and I shared it with my students here. Never heard any art teacher or art critic explaining this painting like that. I also would love to write an article about your explanation about this painting to the local newspaper, as a feature article, quoting you and the channel. Would it be ok? It would be great if it is ok.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

@@amah.vanniarachchy4334 Hi Ama, That would be wonderful, perhaps when the article is published you could send me a link? Many thanks, Paul

[@amah.vanniarachchy4334]

Thank you very much. Yes, I will definitely send you the link once it is published.

[@patriciaezzell7484]

How do you know about the purpose of the skewed perspective? Is there an artist journal somewhere we can read? I am interested in how he arrived at the bizarre challenges he has set for himself. Why was this painting intended to be viewed from such an angle?

[@ArtHistorySchool]

He is not the first artist to make use of perspective on a flat surface. Hans Holbein the Younger painted The Ambassadors in 1533 using exactly the same idea. The skull in the painting can only be seen correctly fro an acute angle. It is all about perception. Why do we paint pictures of roads getting narrower as they disappear into the distance when we know the does not do that? Should we paint what we see or what we know? Interesting.

[@tessellatiaartilery8197]

Outstanding video explanation. Thank you very much for these insights, never knew the half about the painting and the perspective clincher at the end, amazing!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad it was helpful!. Cheers

[@jppagetoo]

A favorite of mine. I have seen the final version in Chicago. I have seen one of the study versions the Met in New York City. I am impressed by how he used olive and purple to make browns. The points blend to make colors that don't really exist. And the paintings are huge! So much work for such small dots. The prespective thing... mind completely blown... that is something I never knew despite seeing the sketches and the final version in person. Can you do something Grant Wood? His paintings in Chicago are amazing. He was much more then just "American Gothic" (iconic as that is)

[@ArtHistorySchool]

You must be a mind reader. I am working on Grant Wood's American Gothic at the moment. Should be finished in a couple of weeks or so. Cheers

[@jppagetoo]

@@ArtHistorySchool Oh awesome! I grew uplooking at his Midnight Ride of Paul Revere but never knew it was his painting until 10 years ago. Woods paintings are some of my favorite modern works.

[@patriciaezzell7484]

How do we know any of the artist's intentions?

[@ArtHistorySchool]

@@patriciaezzell7484 Because of what they write down, preliminary ideas, and notes put down in sketchbooks, conversations noted at the time. Just like today artist's, like everyone else, spoke to friends, rivals, colleagues, family etc and much survives today. Van Gogh wrote over 1000 letters to his brother Theo over a ten year period, detailing almost every day and painting he produced during the last 10 years of his life. Those letters survive and can be viewed in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. He's not the only one.

[@fitto3000]

thanks for sharing us this nice video

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you liked it

[@D9david]

Thanks!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thank you for your support on both my channels, it is very much appreciated. Kind regards Paul

[@john2759]

Thanks 🙏 your Channel is well appreciate

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thank you

[@juwu5095]

You are a great story teller! I really enjoy all the wonderful videos. Thank you. How about make one about YOU -Paul Priestley? Also, do you sell your work online? Julie

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Not sure a video about me would be that interesting. No, I don't sell work online. Cheers Paul

[@claudiascott6654]

This is my very favorite 'fun' painting and I enjoyed your remarks. Love your series!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thank you so much!

[@Diaana888]

Nice one

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thanks 🔥

[@fbpliegorrivero8869]

Seurat, Van Gogh, Gaugin, the same with Cézanne, they were so shockingly different to contemporary accepted art. One can only imagine the enormous social pressure on them and their work.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

I think they could handle the pressure, but it is hard going against the mainstream.

[@a_j_pessa]

Good video. Thank you

[@ArtHistorySchool]

You are welcome

[@user-hn3uw9pt1e]

😽Thank you so much! It was useful story, indeed!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ilovevloging100]

What a great video 💖

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you liked it!!

[@ginacrusco234]

Thanks for this interesting analysis. Was there an intended setting for the painting which would have placed it at the 45 degree angle?

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Not that I know of. He was fascinated also by science, geometry and chemistry so he may have just designed like that.

[@dodoxan4972]

I'd love to hear something about "Modersohn Becker" in the style of your videos. I'm a huge fan of her art, but there is not enough I can find out about her.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

I'll add her to my list.

[@Artinsane]

Hi sir your video is amezing

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Thank you so much 😀

[@phyllischan3696]

thanks for the video. but i’m not very understand that why should we view from the right side at an angle of 45 degree. that will make the couple on the right side even bigger when we are standing at the right.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Have you tried looking at the painting from an angle? I think you will see all the figures work better in perspective with each other.

[@southsidepaddy]

Paul, can you make 1 on my hero Toulouse-Lautrec 👍🏼

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Good idea, I'll add him to my list

[@Lance2094]

Superb! Two of my grandchildren won’t in in school first quarter because of Covid here in Colorado. How might she use your program as learning tools ? Kids are 11 and nine. Thank you for your programs!

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Perhaps they could watch the video and see if they could create a painting just using primary colours. Using the pointillist technique of dots they could create all the other colours they need. It will take patience and they will learn about how the eye perceives colour.

[@kellywantuch6056]

Are you aware that when the Bartlett family tried to donate it to the Art Institute of Chicago, they refused it at first? Many painting were donated by this family. I know extended family who told me this story.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

I wasn't aware of that. Cheers

[@carolelerman9686]

More please sir.

[@ArtHistorySchool]

I have more planned

[@carolelerman9686]

@@ArtHistorySchool Thank you.

[@EditEmpireIta]

Great video! Godo

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@stennsonn]

Is that a radio or a TV on the far right infront on the 3 women sitting on the ground? It looks like it but the radio wasn't invented until after this was painted....

[@ArtHistorySchool]

If, as you know, radio and television were 20th century inventions, they can't appear in a 19th century painting!

[@stennsonn]

@@ArtHistorySchool So give me your best guess at what that wooden box is?

[@akshayanandyala4752]

How did you use the georges seurat images and paintings images without copyright? Sir

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Paintings can come under what is termed 'fair use' for education, research etc. Also, whilst some galleries try to claim exclusive copyright on their paintings, it appears some years ago they lost an important legal case on this point. I can't remember the detail, but it was along the lines that if a gallery puts their paintings into the public domain, in the sense that they they allow the public to see them and some one takes a photo, they can't claim copyright of the photo. However, if that photo was then sold for profit that could cause copyright issues. It is also the fact that most art works move into the public domain 50 or in some cases 70 years after the artist's death. It can be a grey area so it is best to check.

[@akshayanandyala4752]

Thank you Sir.

[@echoed61]

Nice. Are you saying he used a subtle form of anamorphosis?

[@ArtHistorySchool]

Not quite so pronounced as that, more a subtle play with perspective.

[@_GandalfTheGrey_]

If the figures on the right look too large, then standing 45 degrees to the right would make them seem even bigger…one should stand 45 degrees to the left no?

[@ArtHistorySchool]

It puts them in context with the other figures

[@_GandalfTheGrey_]

@@ArtHistorySchool In what way?