Comparing and Contrasting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat to The Scream by Edvard Munch – An ‘Isms’ Overview

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat and The Scream by Edvard Munch are two iconic paintings from the late 19th century. Both paintings are considered masterpieces of their respective artists and have been widely recognized as significant contributions to the development of modern art. Although the two works differ in their style, subject matter, and techniques, they share certain similarities in their artistic visions and historical context.

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is a pointillist painting (an Impressionist sub-category) created by Seurat in 1886. The painting depicts a group of people relaxing on the banks of the River Seine in Paris. The painting is known for its meticulously executed technique of pointillism, in which the artist creates the entire image by using tiny dots of colour that, when viewed from a distance, create a coherent image. The Scream, on the other hand, is a more expressionistic work created by Munch in 1893. The painting depicts a figure, possibly a self-portrait of the artist, screaming in agony against a fiery red sky. The painting is known for its emotional intensity and bold brushstrokes that convey a sense of raw emotion.

Despite their stylistic differences, both paintings share a common theme of alienation and isolation. A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte depicts a group of people who are physically close but emotionally distant from each other. The figures are depicted as separate and disconnected from each other, emphasizing the alienation and loneliness of modern life. The Scream, similarly, depicts a figure that is alone and disconnected from the world around him. The screaming figure is isolated against the fiery red sky, emphasizing the existential angst and despair of modern life.

Another significant difference between the two paintings is their use of colour. A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is known for its bright, cheerful colours that reflect the leisurely activities of the people depicted in the painting. The colours are carefully chosen to convey a sense of harmony and balance, creating an idyllic image of leisure and pleasure. The Scream, on the other hand, is known for its use of bold, contrasting colours that convey a sense of intense emotion. The fiery red sky and the contrasting blue-green hues of the figure’s face create a sense of psychological tension and emotional turmoil.

In terms of technique, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is notable for its use of pointillism, which creates a sense of depth and texture through the careful application of dots of colour. The painting is meticulously executed, with Seurat carefully selecting and applying each dot of colour to create a cohesive image. The Scream, on the other hand, is notable for its use of bold, expressive brushstrokes that convey a sense of raw emotion and psychological intensity. Munch uses broad strokes and thick impasto to create a sense of texture and depth, emphasizing the emotional intensity of the painting.

In conclusion, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat and The Scream by Edvard Munch are two iconic paintings from the late 19th century that differ in their style, subject matter, and techniques. A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte depicts a group of people enjoying leisure activities on the banks of the River Seine, while The Scream depicts a figure screaming in agony against a fiery red sky. Despite their differences, both paintings share a common theme of alienation and isolation, reflecting the existential angst and despair of modern life.