Georges Seurat (1859–1891)
1890
Oil paint on canvas
Gravelines, summer 1890
In the Gravelines paintings, Georges Seurat sought a sense of space and expansion within the constricted surroundings of the canalised river. Here, he used the sweeping quayside, with its receding line of mooring posts, to create a dynamic perspective. Seurat had started adding dark borders to his paintings in 1889. They allowed him to frame his compositions and make the colours appear more vibrant. He also created bespoke coloured frames for his works, most of which have been lost. The current frame was made in 1985 in an attempt to recapture the effect sought by Seurat.