Henri-Edmund Cross was a Neo-Impressionist painter who produced his first paintings using this technique in 1891. He then adopted Pointillism and created his first painting using the new technique, the portrait Madame Hector France (1891). In 1903-04, Cross produced one of his most famous works, Soleil Couchant Sur La Lagune (Venice), which depicts the stillness of a sea after sunset.
The painting is known for its use of finely graded color relationships, layered broadly or applied in dots on top of one another, resulting in an overall dreamy effect. The technique is a combination of both Neo-Impressionist and Pointillist techniques. Cross moved to the Mediterranean coast in 1891 and was captivated by the intensity of light and color there, which he incorporated into his work.
Soleil Couchant Sur La Lagune (Venice) is a portrayal of Venice’s stunning sunset seen from across its lagoon. It’s noted for its subtle shades that reflect on the water’s surface; sunlight brilliantly diffuses across sky hues as it hits horizon lines to produce results that are literally unparalleled throughout art history. Due to its accolades and quality craftsmanship reflected throughout uniquely shaped brushstrokes and an ingenious choice for colors woven together amidst harmonious variations worthy not only visually pleasing but also emotionally moving imagery within Contextualization among culturally significant pieces in turn they construct connections used by art historians when analyzing pivotal cultural sensitive moments.
