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Artist: Georges Seurat (1859-1891) (11)

Period: 19th century (9229)

Type: oil paint (473)

Keywords
cosmetics (3) | dots (4) | dressing tables (4) | mirrors (95) | powder (1) | powder puffs (1) | still lifes (75) | women (1424)

Image sets with this image: Impressionist paintings |Art and Identity |en exposicion 3

Young Woman powdering Herself

1888-90

Georges Seurat (1859-1891)

Oil on canvas

Depth: 7.5 cm ( frame ); Width: 91.5 cm ( frame ); Height: 107 cm ( frame ); Width: 79.5 cm ( canvas ); Height: 95.5 cm ( canvas );

Inscription
Signed, bottom right & recto, on painted border, Seurat

Acquisition (source, method, date)
Courtauld, Samuel; gift; 1932
P.1932.SC.396

About this work
This painting is a striking demonstration of Seurat’s pointillist technique. The modulation of light and shadow on the wall is achieved with the use of small dots of pure colour juxtaposed in varying concentrations and intensity.

The young model depicted by Seurat was his mistress, Madeleine Knobloch, who bore him two sons. This painting thus takes on a very personal meaning. (Permanent collection label)

Copyright: © The Samuel Courtauld Trust, The Courtauld Gallery, London