Signac, Paul

Signac, Paul (1863-1935), French Post-Impressionist painter, born in Paris. In 1893, under the influence of Georges Seurat, he abandoned the use of ordinary brushstrokes to experiment with scientifically juxtaposed dots of pure colour using the Neo-Impressionist technique known as Pointillism. The dots create a prismatic effect that give his scenes—mainly river or seashore views—a strong impression of glittering natural sunlight. After 1900 Signac abandoned Pointillism and began painting in small squares of colour that create a mosaic-like effect, as in View of the Port of Marseille (1905, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York). He also produced vibrant watercolours in a more spontaneous, freely composed style.