Who painted View of the Seine?

View of the Seine was painted by Georges Seurat in 1882-01-01.

Where can I see View of the Seine?

View of the Seine is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is View of the Seine?

View of the Seine is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of View of the Seine?

Museum-quality prints of View of the Seine are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

View of the Seine

Georges Seurat

View of the Seine is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Georges Seurat. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s holdings of 19th‑century French art.

View of the Seine presents a river landscape on the Seine with a small boat navigating the waterway. Painted by Georges Seurat in 1882, the work is executed in oil on panel and measures 15.9 cm by 24.8 cm. The composition captures the gentle movement of water and the atmospheric effects of light, reflecting the artist’s interest in modern urban leisure along the Parisian river. The painting belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s holdings of 19th‑century French art.

Technique & Style

View of the Seine is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel. The work, measuring roughly 15.9 cm in height by 24.8 cm in width, was completed in 1882 and is classified as a painting. Its surface consists of layered oil pigments applied to the panel support, a material choice typical of French easel works of the period.

The composition records a modest river scene with a small boat, emphasizing linear perspective and a restrained palette. As a piece in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, the painting remains well‑preserved, showing no significant signs of deterioration.

History & Provenance

Georges Seurat painted View of the Seine in 1882, working in oil on panel. The painting depicts a boat on a river and measures 15.9 cm in height by 24.8 cm in width. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains today.

The work is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is accessioned as part of the museum’s holdings.

It has been exhibited by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the exhibition “Seurat’s Circus Sideshow,” held from October 2017 to May 2018.

Overview

Georges Seurat, a French Post-Impressionist painter, created View of the Seine in 1892 using oil paint. This work captures a tranquil scene on the famed Parisian river, featuring a solitary figure navigating a small boat. The painting exemplifies Seurat's early exploration of color and light, preceding his more developed pointillist technique, yet still showcasing his methodical approach to composition and brushwork. It is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

Context

Created during a period of artistic transition, View of the Seine reflects Seurat's engagement with Impressionist principles while moving towards his own distinct style. As a key figure in Post-Impressionism, Seurat sought to bring greater structure and scientific rigor to the study of light and color. This painting illustrates his early efforts in developing the systematic optical mixing techniques that would later define chromoluminarism and pointillism.