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Georges Seurat, 'The Channel of Gravelines, Grand Fort-Philippe', 1890

About the work

Overview

This is one of four paintings Seurat produced in 1890 near the town of Gravelines, a small port on the northern French coast between Calais and Dunkirk. Positioned on the sand dunes of Petit-Fort-Philippe, we see the shore in the morning light after the receding tide has left a broad expanse of open beach in the foreground.

Using the horizontal blue stripe of the channel, Seurat divides the painting into two near-equal halves of sky and sand. The vertical lines of the masts and signal tower are echoed just below by two mooring posts, subtly connecting these two halves .

Seurat covers the canvas with a shimmering mosaic of dots and strokes of unblended paint to create subtle gradations of luminous tone. He has also added a painted border of coloured dots. Each section of the border complements the adjacent area of the picture to intensify the impact of the colour.

Key facts

Details

Full title
The Channel of Gravelines, Grand Fort-Philippe
Artist dates
1859 - 1891
Date made
1890
Medium and support
oil on canvas
Dimensions
65 × 81 cm
Inscription summary
Signed
Acquisition credit
Bought with the aid of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, 1995
Inventory number
NG6554
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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