Paul Signac: Symphony of Colors
Paul Signac dedicated himself to achieving the highest degree of radiance and harmony— a goal that, in the mid-1880s, led him and Georges Seurat to introduce a groundbreaking new style of painting to the art world. By applying pure colors in short brushstrokes and dots, they built upon the legacy of the Impressionists. Signac’s interest in music, architecture, and Symbolist literature reflected his vision of artistic synergy across disciplines.
The exhibition traces Signac’s artistic journey—from the early waterside landscapes, inspired by his love of sailing, to interior scenes and portraits, and finally to socially utopian visions of the Côte d’Azur, which he discovered as a wellspring of motifs for modern art. It explores his pivotal role in the Neo-Impressionist movement, not only as an artist but also as a theorist, collector, and patron. The show also highlights his efforts as a networker—organizing exhibitions, mentoring younger artists, and expanding Neo-Impressionism beyond France to Belgium and Germany.
Around thirty works by Signac are presented in dialogue with paintings by Lucie Cousturier, Henri-Edmond Cross, Curt Herrmann, Maximilien Luce, Camille Pissarro, Théo van Rysselberghe, Jeanne Selmersheim-Desgrange, Georges Seurat, Jan Toorop, and others. The exhibition features loans from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Musée du Petit Palais in Geneva, the Archives Signac in Paris, and other national and international collections.
An exhibition of the Museum Barberini, Potsdam and the Kunsthal Rotterdam