View of Le Crotoy, from Upstream 1889

Georges Seurat constructed “View of Le Crotoy, from Upstream” in the late 19th century using oil on canvas. At first glance, the calm coastal scene might seem traditional, but look closer. Seurat’s pointillist technique, where tiny dots of pure color create a shimmering effect, challenges our perception. The composition is carefully structured with a balance between the foreground, water, and distant town. The light, rendered through a mosaic of colors, gives the scene a sense of stillness. Seurat was interested in color theory and optical mixing, influenced by scientific approaches to art. The painting reflects his exploration of how colors interact and create luminosity. This method aligns with a structuralist approach, where individual elements combine to form a coherent whole, inviting us to consider how meaning arises from the structured arrangement of visual components. Ultimately, "View of Le Crotoy, from Upstream" is less about representing a specific place and more about exploring the very nature of seeing. The work destabilizes our understanding of representation, prompting us to examine how optical and cultural codes shape our visual experience.