“End of the Jetty, Honfleur” is an oil on canvas artwork created by Georges Seurat in 1886. This landscape is a fine example of the Neo-Impressionist movement, measuring 45.7 x 55.2 cm. Currently, it is housed in the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands, though it was painted in France.
The artwork depicts a serene marine vista at Honfleur, with a central focus on the wooden jetty and lighthouse that juts into the water. In the tradition of Neo-Impressionism, Seurat employs a technique known as pointillism, meticulously applying small, distinct dots of color that collectively embrace a harmonious chromatic effect when viewed from a distance. The subdued palette consists of an array of blues, greens, and earth tones that lend the scene an atmospheric quality, with the dotted technique imparting a vibrancy and texture to the composition.
Seurat captures a moment of tranquil daily life, where the solidity of the jetty and the lighthouse contrast with the fluidity of the sea and sky. Several sailboats can be seen dotted across the water, accentuating the maritime activity and the vast expanse of the open sea that lies beyond the jetty. The use of light and shade, as well as the enclosed impressionist color theory, evoke a sense of time and place, inviting contemplation on the interplay of human constructs with the natural environment.
