The artwork entitled “The Jetty at Cassis,” was created by artist Paul Signac in the year 1889. It is an oil painting on canvas that measures 46.4 x 65.1 cm. This work falls within the realms of Pointillism and Neo-Impressionism, genres that are characterized by the use of small, distinct dots of color applied in patterns to form an image. The artwork is a landscape, a genre that depicts the natural scenery.
In this particular painting, Signac has captured the tranquil scenery of a jetty at Cassis, a small port town on the Mediterranean coast. Through meticulous dots of color, one can observe the gentle play of light and shadow that defines the coastal landscape. The water, rendered in varying shades of blue with hints of green, suggests the depth and movement of the sea. Meanwhile, the sky is a mosaic of cooler hues, giving an impression of a clear, serene day. The buildings and structures along the jetty showcase the warm colors of the Mediterranean landscape, with sunlit walls and shadowed areas creating a vivid contrast. This method of painting, characteristic of Signac and his contemporaries, reflects not only the artists’ dedication to their technique but also their desire to capture the interplay of light and color in nature.
