The artwork titled “Port-en-Bessin, the Semaphore and Cliffs” was created by artist Georges Seurat in 1888. Originating from France, the painting is executed in oil on canvas and measures 61.5 by 80.9 centimeters. Representing the innovative styles of Pointillism and Neo-Impressionism, this landscape artwork captures a serene maritime scene.
“Port-en-Bessin, the Semaphore and Cliffs” features a coastal vista with the steep, natural form of a cliff dominating the left side of the composition. The summit of this geological structure is marked by a semaphore, a signaling device. Below and stretching towards the horizon is the calm expanse of the sea. Painted in a multitude of dots and small strokes, the water’s surface subtly reflects the colors of the sky above, where clouds are rendered in a soft, tranquil manner. This technique is characteristic of Seurat’s Pointillist approach, where individual color spots are meticulously applied and visually blend at a distance, giving rise to a luminous and harmonious effect. The artwork conveys a sense of peacefulness and the beauty of the natural world, inviting contemplation of its subdued hues and the meticulous precision of its painted surface.
