Details

Object type

painting

Title

Sunset, Herblay, Opus 206

Artist/Maker

Paul Signac artist

Culture/School

French

Place Associated

France, Herblay (place depicted)

Date

1889

Materials

oil on canvas

Dimensions

unframed: 571 x 900 mm; framed: 775 x 1085 mm

Description

Using the complementary colours blue and orange, Signac captures the rich, atmospheric glow of a sunset at Herblay, a village on the river Seine. Intent on capturing a particular quality of light, Signac applies his paint using dabs and patches, rather than the rigid dots of Pointillism.

Notice how Signac has inscribed ‘Opus 206’ in the lower right hand corner – just as a piece of music might be numbered. Signac believed that his method of painting, combining colours that were divided and then harmonized, was like musical composition.

Credit Line/Donor

Gifted by H M Government by whom accepted in lieu of estate duty, 1976

ID Number

3324

Location

Kelvingrove French Art Gallery