Seurat and the Sea
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This catalogue charts the evolution of the radical and distinctive style of French artist Georges Seurat through the recurring motif of the sea.
Seurat and the Sea is a scholarly and visually rich catalogue accompanying a landmark exhibition at The Courtauld, London, the first exhibition devoted to Seurat’s seascapes. Georges Seurat (1859–1891), known for pioneering the Neo-Impressionist technique of using small dots of pure colour, developed a luminous and atmospheric style that evolved notably through his repeated engagement with maritime themes.
The book brings together paintings, oil sketches and drawings produced during five summers spent on France’s northern coast between 1885 and 1890, in coastal towns such as Honfleur, Port-en-Bessin, and Gravelines. These works, featuring seascapes, regattas and harbour scenes, contrast with Seurat’s better-known Parisian imagery and reflect his desire to escape studio confines and depict the clarity of natural light.
The catalogue highlights how these coastal works deepened Seurat’s exploration of colour and form and played a vital role in expanding his influence. Featuring loans from global collections alongside The Courtauld’s holdings, the exhibition reaffirms Seurat’s lasting artistic significance despite his early death at age 31.
Exhibition Schedule:
The Courtauld Gallery, London
(13 February–17 May 2026)
Seurat and the Sea is a scholarly and visually rich catalogue accompanying a landmark exhibition at The Courtauld, London, the first exhibition devoted to Seurat’s seascapes. Georges Seurat (1859–1891), known for pioneering the Neo-Impressionist technique of using small dots of pure colour, developed a luminous and atmospheric style that evolved notably through his repeated engagement with maritime themes.
The book brings together paintings, oil sketches and drawings produced during five summers spent on France’s northern coast between 1885 and 1890, in coastal towns such as Honfleur, Port-en-Bessin, and Gravelines. These works, featuring seascapes, regattas and harbour scenes, contrast with Seurat’s better-known Parisian imagery and reflect his desire to escape studio confines and depict the clarity of natural light.
The catalogue highlights how these coastal works deepened Seurat’s exploration of colour and form and played a vital role in expanding his influence. Featuring loans from global collections alongside The Courtauld’s holdings, the exhibition reaffirms Seurat’s lasting artistic significance despite his early death at age 31.
Exhibition Schedule:
The Courtauld Gallery, London
(13 February–17 May 2026)
Dr Karen Serres is Senior Curator of Paintings, The Courtauld Gallery, London. Professor Richard Thomson is Research Professor in the History of Art, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh. Professor Paul Smith is Professorial Research Fellow in the History of Art, The University of Warwick