A Sunday on La Grande Jatte
Painting on canvas • Georges Seurat
Style & Movement
Post-Impressionism / Neo-Impressionism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, executed using Pointillism (divisionism) featuring small, distinct dots of pure color applied in patterns to form an image
Creation Period
1884-1886
Dimensions & Format
207.6 cm x 308 cm (81.7 in x 121.2 in), large-scale landscape format
Subject Description
A landscape depicting members of various social classes at a park on the banks of the Seine River near Paris, featuring leisure activities, various figures, a monkey on a leash, dogs, and strollers under shaded trees.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Museum-grade pristine condition, housed in the Art Institute of Chicago
Estimated Market Value
Inimitable masterpiece; estimated value exceeds $350 million USD if ever brought to market
Auction Estimate
Not applicable as the painting is held in a public museum collection and is practically un-acquirable
Provenance History
Passed through the artist's estate, acquired by various Parisian galleries, and eventually entered the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1926
Art Historical Significance
A foundational masterpiece of Neo-Impressionism that revolutionized modern art through the systematic application of optical mixing and chromatic science, highly influential on subsequent avant-garde movements.
Notable Features
Features the iconic painted border added by Seurat himself, amplifying the optical vibration of the complementary colors within the primary composition
Condition Issues
Stable museum conservation state with no active degradation, though historical pigment darkening has been a subject of study
Conservation Recommendations
Strict climate-controlled museum environment with low-UV lighting and continuous monitoring by professional conservators