An artwork on Galleree from The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Study for "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte"Georges Seurat
French, Paris 1859–1891 Paris
1884
27 3/4 x 41 in. (70.5 x 104.1 cm)
Painting
Oil on canvas
European Paintings
Bequest of Sam A. Lewisohn, 1951
Georges Seurat’s "Study for A Sunday on La Grande Jatte" captures a tranquil moment in a Parisian park by the river. The scene is filled with people enjoying a sunny day, each figure meticulously painted with small dabs of color. This technique, known as pointillism, allows the colors to blend in the viewer’s eye, creating a sense of vibrancy and life.
In this study, we see characters posed in calm leisure—some sit on the grass, while others stroll along the water’s edge. The trees create a gentle frame around the figures, providing shade and a feeling of serenity. There’s a harmonious balance between the colored patches of clothing, the play of light on the water, and the green of the grass.
Even the animals, like the dog at the forefront, contribute to the tranquil atmosphere. Each figure seems lost in their own world, yet together they create a collective sense of peace. Seurat’s choice of colors, ranging from soft tones to more vibrant hues, enhances this feeling, inviting viewers to step into a moment of quiet reflection in the midst of a lively Sunday at the park.
About the artist
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online.Since its founding in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. Every day, art comes alive in the Museum's galleries and through its exhibitions and events, revealing new ideas and unexpected connections across time and across cultures.The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from The Met's Open Access dataset under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue New York, NY, USA 10028
The best place to view The Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s artwork is on Galleree. Hear the story behind this work, interact with the image, discuss with people, curate your own playlists, and discover so much more from great artists and institutions alike.