The artwork titled “Seated figures” was crafted by the renowned artist Georges Seurat in the year 1884 within the borders of France. This piece utilizes the mediums of oil and wood, exhibiting the characteristics of the Pointillism and Neo-Impressionism art movements. The dimensions of the artwork measure 15.5 by 24.9 centimeters, and it can be classified under the genre painting category. Currently, this artwork is a permanent fixture at the Harvard Art Museums located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
In detail, “Seated figures” presents a serene, bucolic scene consisting of seated individuals and standing figures in a verdant landscape. The foreground shows a figure seated in profile, engrossed in thought or perhaps simply resting, draped in garments that blend with the earthy tones around them. The middle ground reveals what appears to be two individuals—one standing, one seated, with perhaps a parasol or similar object situated between them—that contribute to the scene’s narrative of leisurely repose. In the background, a line of trees separates the meadow from a stretch of water, with the foliage depicted in a tapestry of greens and blues that are characteristic of Seurat’s pointillist technique, where small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image. The artwork’s atmosphere is suffused with quietude and the tranquil air of a lazy afternoon, capturing a fleeting moment in nature with a subtlety of light and color.
