squares 1~5

squares 1~5

Saturday, June 15, 2019

The meaning of arched border painted around Seurat's "Cancan"

The painting has painted border which top is arched.
Recently I noticed that this arch is important key to understand Seurat's method of composition.
This curve looks the same as the curve of raised hem of the skirt and the curves of the legs side by side.
The arc model can check how the curves are.

Only five types of circles are enough to make the model.
This creates harmonious effect.
    Seurat [Cancan] arc model

Circle-arc model can be made extending  arc-model.
     Seurat "Cancan" circle-arc model

Enlarged model show how exactly the circles are placed.
     Seurat "Cancan" enlarged circle-arc model

 Blue circles make the basic structure.
     Seurat "Cancan" blue circle-arc model

The two circles which are the extension of the arch pass near the bottom corners.
The circles which make the hem of the skirt intersect higher than the painting.


     Seurat [Cancan]  circle-cross model

The second largest red circles are dominant.
A circle with the horizontal and vertical diameter make a unit called circle-cross unit.
When more than three circles intersect at a point I call the point"pivot".
Circles fastened at a point can still be moved along the point for adjusting balance.
Lined units make good balance.

Seurat"s late composition is highly syntactic.
Syntax is ornamental.
I have classified the level of ornamental development into seven.
The highest level of work can be expressed as circle-cross model.
The most syntactically finished work by Cezanne is lithograph "Six Bathers" which is linear work.
Picasso started monochromatic Cubism.
Even Fauvist Matisse painted "Dance" with a few colors.
Early Modern artists all recognized that atom of art is arc.