Pointillism was a category of art that grew from the post-impressionist movement. Unlike Impressionist art, which used small dabs of color in order to depict the way that light interacts with an object, framed pointillism art employs small dots of various colors in order to create optical effects of light and shadow.
Pointillism is characterized by the use of paint or ink placed in small dots on the canvas. Like the Impressionists they were inspired by, these pointillist artists typically developed their paintings from life. Modern artists however, have expanded on this art form to include mythological creatures, surrealistic landscapes, and highly detailed portraiture.
Georges Seurat and Paul Signac are credited with the development of this unique style. Unlike traditional artists, who mixed pigments in order to develop a certain shade and effect, these two artists developed a technique in which the viewer’s eye would combine two different colors into one. This technique was revolutionary at the time, and was the first form of true optical art that was ever created.
However, the signature brightness and energy of this art is also a drawback to the rendering process. Although Pointillism artwork can create fascinating works that appear to shine and glisten, they are typically shallow in appearance and lack the rich texture of other traditional works. Modern artists have addressed this issue somewhat with the use of inks to create deeper shades of color but without blending the colors beyond recognition, they are still not as deep or realistic as their contemporaries who use classic blending techniques.
Pointillism is still a highly popular art form, both among artists and collectors. For artists, developing a Pointillism piece requires long hours and patience, which is why many teachers use this art form to introduce students to longer works. For collectors, Pointillism provides brightly colored, shimmering works which cover a variety of artists and historic eras.
For the consumer, Pointillism offers a unique decorating choice, regardless of personal style. With the wide range of subjects, renderings, and mediums, people are sure to find something that speaks to them.
