Pont Neuf, Paris 

Paul Signac's "Pont Neuf, Paris" is an exercise in colour and line rendered in watercolor and graphite. The composition is bisected horizontally, with the Pont Neuf acting as a bridge between the architecture and sky above, and the Seine below. This division creates a sense of balance, yet the loose, flowing brushstrokes infuse the scene with movement. Signac's mark-making is distinctive. He uses short, deliberate strokes to build up colour and form. The reflections in the water are not mere copies but semi-abstracted interpretations. Notice how the structure, despite being clearly representational, flirts with abstraction through its emphasis on pure colour and line. Signac, influenced by Pointillism, often explored how colour could create optical effects. Here, he uses lighter hues to capture the shimmering quality of light on water. The artwork challenges our perception by showing how a familiar scene can be transformed through the artist's subjective experience. The formal qualities draw us into a dialogue between representation and abstraction, between seeing and knowing.