"The Circus", painted in 1891 by Georges Seurat, is a remarkable achievement of the short-lived Pointillist style, and a breathless character study of a wide range of activities and performances all occurring simultaneously beneath a circus big top. Spending an entire year working on the canvas, Seurat died before the work could be finished, aged only 31. Despite the sizable impact of the artist's style and the vastly influential nature of his small body of work, Seurat's hopes for the work were humble. He wanted the piece to feature at the Salon des Artistes Independents, so that a Symbolist critic he admired might comment upon his work. With Seurat's death the Pointillist style - a form of painting composed of small dots of perfect color - departed from the artistic sphere, but lives on in the collections of the Parisian treasure trove the Musee d'Orsay, where "The Circus" is held. Aiming to reflect late-nineteenth century interests in corporeal movement and dynamism, Seurat's canvas also contains a marked influence from Japanese woodblock printing, the popular poster-art of Parisian street life, and prefigures the fractured viewpoints that would characterize the early modernist movement of the first decade of the twentieth century. Influenced by the ageing artist Edgar Degas, Seurat focused on "The Circus" as a means to emphasize the social strata of Parisian leisure pursuits. In the stands of the grand parade are the whole gamut of social classes, indicated by their gestures, clothing, and reaction to the spectacle before them. This stunning mosaic of pure color and bombastic drama is a poignant end to Seurat's all-too-brief career.
“The Circus”, painted in 1891 by Georges Seurat, is a remarkable achievement of the short-lived Pointillist style, and a breathless character study of a wide range of activities and performances all occurring simultaneously beneath a circus big top. Spending an entire year working on the canvas, Seurat died before the work could be finished, aged only 31. Despite the sizable impact of the artist’s style and the vastly influential nature of his small body of work, Seurat’s hopes for the work were humble. He wanted the piece to feature at the Salon des Artistes Independents, so that a Symbolist critic he admired might comment upon his work. With Seurat’s death the Pointillist style — a form of painting composed of small dots of perfect color — departed from the artistic sphere, but lives on in the collections of the Parisian treasure trove the Musee d’Orsay, where “The Circus” is held. Aiming to reflect late-nineteenth century interests in corporeal movement and dynamism, Seurat’s canvas also contains a marked influence from Japanese woodblock printing, the popular poster-art of Parisian street life, and prefigures the fractured viewpoints that would characterize the early modernist movement of the first decade of the twentieth century. Influenced by the ageing artist Edgar Degas, Seurat focused on “The Circus” as a means to emphasize the social strata of Parisian leisure pursuits. In the stands of the grand parade are the whole gamut of social classes, indicated by their gestures, clothing, and reaction to the spectacle before them. This stunning mosaic of pure color and bombastic drama is a poignant end to Seurat’s all-too-brief career.
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Lifetime Warranty
“Is this new?” That is what you are going to hear for the next 50 years. Your yellows will stay as yellow as the first day you hung your art. If not, we will replace it.
Handcrafted Quality
Every item is made-to-order and assembled in-house by our team, using only premium materials...cuz we're a little obsessed about art.
Made in The USA
All of our premium materials are sourced from the states, and then assembled at iCanvas, in Illinois. Lincoln would be proud.
Canvas Print Framing Options
Gallery Wrapped Canvas
All of our artwork comes gallery wrapped. The image is stretched around the sides and stapled to the
back of the wooden frame. Your piece of art will be ready to hang, and will include an easy-to-use
hanging kit.
Floating Frame
A little “armor for your art” that won‘t obscure the canvas. Your canvas print is
gallery wrapped and mounted to a 2" thick, elegant, black hard wood frame. The art is inset, leaving a
3/8" space between the art and frame, creating the illusion that your art is “floating.”
FRAME OPTIONS
Black & white matte frames have a sleek lacquer finish and are versatile enough to pair with almost any piece of art. Mottled gold & silver frames are hard wood with a textured metallic finish. Silver pairs well with cool colors and dark backgrounds, while gold pairs particularly well with classic art, traditional décor, and warmer colors. Dark wood can look great with rustic, farmhouse, nature and photography prints.
Framed Canvas Framing Options
Gallery Wrapped Canvas
All of our artwork comes gallery wrapped. The image is stretched around the sides and stapled to the
back of the wooden frame. Your piece of art will be ready to hang, and will include an easy-to-use
hanging kit.
Floating Frame
A little “armor for your art” that won‘t obscure the canvas. Your canvas print is
gallery wrapped and mounted to a 2" thick, elegant, black hard wood frame. The art is inset, leaving a
3/8" space between the art and frame, creating the illusion that your art is “floating.”
FRAME OPTIONS
Black & white matte frames have a sleek lacquer finish and are versatile enough to pair with almost any piece of art. Mottled gold & silver frames are hard wood with a textured metallic finish. Silver pairs well with cool colors and dark backgrounds, while gold pairs particularly well with classic art, traditional décor, and warmer colors. Dark wood can look great with rustic, farmhouse, nature and photography prints.
About Framed Art Prints
Fine Art Paper
Presented on heavyweight (300 GSM) fine art paper with a distinct textured surface, using long-lasting ultra-chrome inks. A white border is left around the artwork for self-matting or to draw the eye in further.
Low-Glare Acrylic
Acrylite clear-coat premium glazing reduces glare while maintaining a crystal clear view of your art. Your art will be well protected and easy to clean.
Frame Options
Our Indonesian hardwood frames are handcrafted at iCanvas. Black & white matte frames have a sleek lacquer finish and are versatile enough to pair with almost any piece of art.
Mottled Gold has a textured metallic finish and pairs particularly well with classic art, traditional décor, and warmer colors.
Natural Wood brings the outdoors in and pairs well with watercolors, Scandinavian style artwork, or any natural, earthy subject matter.
Highest Quality Standards
Giclee Printing Process
The standard for precision and stunning color reproduction.
Premium Materials
The best quality canvas for texture and finish; premium inks for vivid color; hand-stretched over 100% North American pine frames.
Handcrafted
Every item is made-to-order — printed, stretched, and stapled here, at iCanvas.
Canvas Horizontal
Canvas Vertical
Canvas Square
