The WOW Report

  • WOW Report
  • About
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race Live!
  • WOW Presents Plus
  • What to Watch
  • Store
You are here: Home / Culture / Art / #ArtDept: Georges Seurat’s “Bathers At Asnières”

#ArtDept: Georges Seurat’s “Bathers At Asnières”

By Stephen Rutledge on September 3, 2017 8:43 am

Via The National Gallery, London

 

Georges Seurat is famous for the painting techniques known as Pointillism, although he falls under the label of French Neo-Impressionist. He is best known for the iconic A Sunday On La Grande Jatte (1884), so fascinating that Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine wrote a musical about it. But, the beautiful Bathers At Asnières, has a rich history also.

The oil on canvas painting was the first of his large-scale compositions. Though it would take decades for the world to catch up with his innovative style, Seurat created this career-defining work at 24-years-old.

Bathers At Asnières (1884) captures the working-class in a moment of well-deserved rest along the Seine. Leisure time for the working-class was a relatively new concept, and Seurat was innovative in portraying men in a peaceful moment of quiet dignity.

The bowler and straw hats and their casual posture are clues to the men’s class status. The smokestacks in the background are a reminder that they will have to return to work tomorrow.

Pointillism was Seurat’s method of using millions of dots to create people and places in his paintings. Bathers At Asnières dabbles in the still evolving technique. Crosshatch brushwork blends with his patches of dots.

Measuring 6.5 feet by 10 feet, Bathers at Asnières is a size that was usually used for paintings of great historical scenes. Using such a large canvas to display anonymous men lounging around, confounded the critics at the time.

Bathers At Asnières was rejected for the esteemed Paris Salon exhibition, so the disappointed Seurat joined a group of artists to found Groupe des Artistes Indépendants, who held their own show that summer. Unfortunately, Seurat’s work didn’t make much of an impression, and Bathers at Asnières’ placement in the event’s beer hall didn’t help.

In 1886, it was shown at the National Academy Of Design in NYC, where Bathers At Asnières befuddled the viewers.

The critic of the NYC newspaper The Sun wrote:

“This is a picture conceived in a coarse, vulgar, and commonplace mind; the work of a man seeking distinction by the vulgar qualification and expedient of size. It is bad from every point of view, including his own.”

From Wikimedia Common

 

In 1889, Seurat passed away of unknown causes. He was just 31-years-old. He never lived to see Bathers At Asnières embraced by art lovers. Today, it is recognized as a masterpiece.

The bathers now live at London’s National Gallery where they are much loved, still enjoying their day off in the 21st Century. It’s one of my favorite paintings and for me it evokes the real meaning of America’s Labor Day, honoring the contributions that workers make for our nation by giving them a long three-day weekend to lounge around.

 

 

Show the love:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Filed Under: Art, Culture, Life

More

Beanie Feldstein! Jean Smart! Hannah Einbinder! Richard Ayoade! The WOW Report for Radio Andy!

Beanie Feldstein! Jean Smart! Hannah Einbinder! Richard Ayoade! The WOW Report for Radio Andy!

by Blake Jacobs on May 20, 2022 11:00 am

Queens Assemble! Watch a Supercut of Shoutouts from Queens at DragCon

Queens Assemble! Watch a Supercut of Shoutouts from Queens at DragCon

by Andrea James on May 13, 2022 4:50 pm

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Trending


Bob Mackie –Who Sketched Marilyn’s Dress in ’62– Said Kim Wearing the Original “Was a Big Mistake”

Jiggly Caliente Ru-Vealed She’s the First ‘Drag Race Philippines’ Judge at RuPaul’s DragCon

Get Your First Look at ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7’

#DragCon22 – Kennedy Davenport Receives Standing Ovations at Her Legendary WOWIE Awards Performance

Here’s Your Day 2 Recap of RuPaul’s DragCon ’22!

About

From the creators of The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Party Monster, Million Dollar Listing, RuPaul's Drag Race, I Am Britney Jean, Big Freedia, and more.

Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew Broderick! Regine! Jennifer Grey! The WOW Report for Radio Andy!
Nicolas Cage! Elon Musk! Paris Hilton! Margaret Mitchell! Charo Joins for the WOW Report for Radio Andy!
Michelle Obama! Devo! Betty Ford! Kardashians! Drag Race Finale! The WOW Report for Radio Andy!
Kim K! Billie Eilish! Molly Shannon! Laurie Anderson! The WOW Report for Radio Andy!
Olivia! Brad Pitt! Gaga! Alec Mapa Joins Us for Our 300th Episode of the WOW Report for Radio Andy!

© 2021 World of Wonder Productions, Inc | World of Wonder is a trademark of World of Wonder Productions, Inc | Privacy

Copyright © 2022 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in