St. Tropez, Tartanes Au Port 1905

Editor: So here we have Paul Signac's "St. Tropez, Tartanes Au Port," a watercolor from 1905. The colors are so light and airy; it almost feels like a fleeting memory of a summer day by the sea. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: Fleeting, yes, but also incredibly structured, wouldn't you agree? Signac, bless his heart, was wrestling with the freedom of Impressionism and the structure of Pointillism. The way he lays down these washes of color – those blues, yellows, a dash of pink – it’s like he's trying to build the world from light itself, almost geometric. Tell me, does it feel… finished? Or like a sketch, a thought quickly jotted down? Editor: I think it feels more like a memory, not quite finished but still vivid. Like he's capturing an *impression* of the moment, hence Impressionism. Curator: Exactly! An impression steeped in his own aesthetic. I love that you picked up on that. There's this tension, right? The chaotic joy of the port juxtaposed with the almost mathematical application of the paint. What do you make of the composition then, with all of these sailing masts almost touching one another? Editor: It almost looks abstract with so many masts! I think that it gives you the impression of depth. And it’s calming in a weird way… chaotic yet calm? Curator: Calm chaos. That's Signac in a nutshell! His controlled method attempts to wrangle with capturing pure feeling with some logic. I leave you to dream on those tartanes on the port, bobbing in time. Thanks for opening my own eyes wider, that’s something special about having the opportunity to discuss this with you. Editor: Thanks! I never really considered the mathematical side of Impressionism. That changed everything.