Paul Signac

French, 1863 - 1935

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See all 21 works of art
The image shows a harbor with medieval European architecture. The view is from a slightly elevated angle, offering a wide perspective. The horizon is high, beneath the sky, defined by buildings including towers, spires, and a dome. The structures are mainly on the center and right side. The style uses loose brushstrokes with an impressionistic technique. The color palette is soft with pastel tones like light pink, blue, yellow, and green. The water reflects colors of boats and buildings, creating harmony between land and sea. The reflection in the water mirrors elements above with a rippled texture. The image conveys a peaceful harbor with classic European charm.
Paul Signac, La Rochelle, 1930, watercolor over black chalk on laid paper, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection, 1970.17.176

La Rochelle

Paul Signac · 1930 · watercolor over black chalk on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1970.17.176
The image shows a landscape with an elevated perspective looking over a body of water towards distant hills. The horizon aligns with a hilltop featuring a castle-like structure. Tall, stylized trees frame the scene in the foreground, with expressive brushstrokes. Buildings with peaked roofs line the water's edge, contrasting with the natural setting. The color palette is primarily sepia and black, creating a textured look. The water reflects the landscape, adding depth to the composition.
Paul Signac, Les Andelys on a Summer Morning, 1923, brush and black ink with graphite on tan paper, Ruth and Jacob Kainen Memorial Acquisition Fund, 2013.100.5

Les Andelys on a Summer Morning

Paul Signac · 1923 · brush and black ink with graphite on tan paper ·  Accession ID  2013.100.5
The image shows a river scene with a bridge in the distance. There are trees along the riverbank, and a steamship with smoke rising into the sky is featured. The style of the image is impressionistic with stippled brushstrokes creating texture in the water and sky. The color palette includes shades of black, gray, and off-white. A small boat with figures inside is seen on the water, trees frame the left side, and buildings are hinted at in the cityscape on the horizon.
Paul Signac, The Flooded Seine in 1910 (La Seine en crue, en 1910), 1923, lithograph, Rosenwald Collection, 1958.8.156

The Flooded Seine in 1910 (La Seine en crue, en 1910)

Paul Signac · 1923 · lithograph ·  Accession ID  1958.8.156
The painting depicts a harbor scene with sailboats at rest. The view is slightly elevated, showing the boats' masts and the horizon meeting distant land and structures against a soft sky. Loose brushstrokes and watercolor washes create a delicate, sketch-like quality. The color palette includes pastel tones with light blues, oranges, and yellows. Closest to the viewer, the boats float on rippling water with masts in green and blue hues. Distant architectural forms suggest a coastal town in sunlit colors.
Paul Signac, St Tropez, 1906, watercolor and gouache over black chalk on laid paper, The John U. and Evelyn S. Nef Collection, 2011.60.16

St Tropez

Paul Signac · 1906 · watercolor and gouache over black chalk on laid paper ·  Accession ID  2011.60.16
The artwork presents a view of a calanque at Saint Tropez, depicted with expressive and loose brushstrokes. The composition is dominated by vibrant colors, with blues, oranges, greens, and yellows creating a lively palette. Closest to us, the rocky shore and water are illustrated with a mix of cool and warm tones. In the distance, the land curves around the water, with trees and vegetation painted in a variety of hues. The horizon is positioned higher in the image, giving prominence to the colorful cliffs and shoreline below. The style is sketch-like, with visible pencil marks and annotations.
Paul Signac, The Calanque at Saint Tropez, 1906, watercolor and graphite on laid paper, Ruth and Jacob Kainen Memorial Acquisition Fund, 2013.196.2

The Calanque at Saint Tropez

Paul Signac · 1906 · watercolor and graphite on laid paper ·  Accession ID  2013.196.2
The image shows a seascape with a view from an elevated point overlooking a harbor scene. The horizon is in the upper third, with distant ships under sails. A large pier or structure is on the right, textured with pointillist brushstrokes. The color palette includes pastel shades of pinks, blues, and yellows, capturing light on the water and sky. Small sailboats with colorful sails are close by, reflecting warm tones onto the water. The sea beyond is in cooler blues and greens. The brushstroke technique is characterized by small, systematic dots of color blending optically from afar. The scene conveys a harmonious balance of movement and light.
Paul Signac, Evening (Le soir), 1898, 5-color lithograph, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Burton Tremaine, 1971.86.39

Evening (Le soir)

Paul Signac · 1898 · 5-color lithograph ·  Accession ID  1971.86.39
The image depicts a scene overlooking water from an elevated angle. The horizon is high in the composition, separating water and sky. A pier extends towards the horizon, with a three-masted sailing ship in the left distance. The artwork uses Pointillist brushstrokes, creating a mosaic-like texture. The color palette includes soft pastel hues of blues, greens, and pinks, creating a serene atmosphere. Small boats with colorful sails are on the water, reflecting the same stippled technique. To the right, a large structure, possibly a lighthouse or pier, casts shadows. In the distance, ships with full sails are visible under the subtly colored sky.
Paul Signac, Evening (Le soir), 1898, 5-color lithograph, Rosenwald Collection, 1951.10.408

Evening (Le soir)

Paul Signac · 1898 · 5-color lithograph ·  Accession ID  1951.10.408
This image depicts a quay or harbor scene with buildings along the water. A church tower with a red dome and yellow facade stands out in the distance. Sailboats with white sails are near the viewer, reflecting on the water. The pointillist style is used, creating forms and textures with dots and dashes of color. The color palette includes pastel hues of yellow, blue, and red, with light clouds in the sky.
Paul Signac, St. Tropez: The Port (Saint-Tropez: Le port), 1897/1898, 6-color lithograph on wove paper, Rosenwald Collection, 1950.16.233

St. Tropez: The Port (Saint-Tropez: Le port)

Paul Signac · 1897/1898 · 6-color lithograph on wove paper ·  Accession ID  1950.16.233
The image shows a waterfront scene with architectural elements like docks and boats in the background. Tree branches on the left are depicted with dotted brushstrokes, and buildings along the water's edge are textured. The color palette includes greens, blues, oranges, and browns. Thin masts or flagpoles with small flags are visible in the distance, leading to the sky, which has a soft, diffused light.
Paul Signac, At Flushing (A Flessingue), 1895, 5-color lithograph, Rosenwald Collection, 1950.16.232

At Flushing (A Flessingue)

Paul Signac · 1895 · 5-color lithograph ·  Accession ID  1950.16.232
The image displays a harbor scene viewed from a dock or pier, with boats moored close by and distant ships and buildings visible. The boats exhibit detailed rigging and sails styled with dot-like brushstrokes. The color palette includes blues, yellows, and earth tones creating a serene atmosphere. The sky shows pale yellow and blue tones.
Paul Signac, Boats at Flushing (Bateaux à Flessingue), 1895, 5-color lithograph, Rosenwald Collection, 1950.16.230

Boats at Flushing (Bateaux à Flessingue)

Paul Signac · 1895 · 5-color lithograph ·  Accession ID  1950.16.230

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