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Student Artwork Guide

Les Bretonnes

Name Class Date

Paul Sérusier, Les Bretonnes (1891). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Paul Sérusier originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/paul-serusier/
Artist’s dates
1864 – 1927
Painted
1891
Movement
Post-Impressionism Artists who kept the bright colour of Impressionism but pushed shape and feeling further than the eye really sees.

In context

Les Bretonnes — Paul Sérusier

When was this painted?

  1. 1860
  2. 1870
  3. 1880
  4. 1890
  5. 1900
  6. 1910
  7. 1920

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 63 at death.

Painted when the artist was 27. The artist lived to 63. 31 of the 124 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Paul Sérusier (1864–1927) ▲ this work, 1891 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1890 Main working years: 1890–1906 Late works: from 1906

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/paul-serusier-les-bretonnes-8YDDJ7-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Yellow Green #c0bd50

    Catalogued palette

    • #C0BD50
    • #281906
    • #81460B
    • #3D6157

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Yellow Green
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Balanced How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Softly Mixed Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Clear Color Presence How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Paul Sérusier over the last twelve months — 16 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 59.8%7,300 visits
    2. 2 United States of America 11.5%1,400 visits
    3. 3 France 9.8%1,200 visits
    4. 4 Singapore 3.3%400 visits
    5. 5 Hong Kong 2.5%300 visits
    6. 6 Montenegro 2.5%300 visits
    7. 7 Argentina 1.6%200 visits
    8. 8 Spain 1.6%200 visits
    9. 9 Poland 1.6%200 visits
    10. 10 Austria 0.8%100 visits
    11. · 6 other countries 5.0%600 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Paul Sérusier

    1. 1 End of the day, 1893 4.9%700 visits
    2. 2 Mignonne Allons Voir si la Rose, 1910 4.9%700 visits
    3. 3 The Talisman, 1888 4.2%600 visits
    4. 4 Still Life with Corn and Tomatoes, 1921 3.5%500 visits
    5. 5 Breton woman going to the washing place, 1890 3.5%500 visits
    6. 6 Roof Tops in Paris 3.5%500 visits
    7. 7 Still life with apples and jug, 1912 2.8%400 visits
    8. 8 Avenue de Neuilly 2.8%400 visits
    9. 9 Susanna and the Elders 2.8%400 visits
    10. 10 Fisherman on the Laita, 1890 2.1%300 visits
    11. 11 La colline aux platanes, 1907 2.1%300 visits
    12. 12 Apple Harvest, 1891 2.1%300 visits
    13. 13 La Guirlande de roses, 1898 2.1%300 visits
    14. 14 Celtic Tale, 1894 1.4%200 visits
    15. 15 Colour Wheel 1.4%200 visits
    16. 16 Portrait of Paul Ranson, 1890 1.4%200 visits
    17. 17 Fishing Boats On The Breton Coast, 1892 1.4%200 visits
    18. 18 The Breton Weaver, 1888 1.4%200 visits
    19. 19 The Fairy and the Knight, 1912 1.4%200 visits
    20. — Les Bretonnes, 1891 this painting 0.0%0 visits

    Together these works take 49.7% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 177 works by this artist, of which 81 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    About this artwork

    Les Bretonnes — Paul Sérusier

    The painting Les Bretonnes by Paul Serusier is a stunning example of Post-Impressionism, a style that emerged in the late 19th century. Created in 1891, this artwork showcases the artist's unique blend of bold colors and distorted forms, characteristic of the movement. As a prominent member of the Nabis Art Movement, Paul Serusier played a significant role in shaping the development of modern art.

    Post-Impressionist Style and Influences

    The Post-Impressionist style, as seen in Les Bretonnes, is marked by a departure from traditional representation and a focus on expressive brushwork and vivid colors. This movement was influenced by various artists, including Vincent Van Gogh, whose works, such as Orchard with Peach Trees in Blossom, showcased the emotional and psychological depth of the artist. The Nabis Art Movement also drew inspiration from other styles, such as Symbolism and Cloisonism.

    Artistic Details and Composition

    The painting Les Bretonnes features four women seated in a natural setting, surrounded by trees and bushes. The use of bold colors and distorted forms creates a sense of tension and emotional intensity. The composition is characterized by a sense of harmony and balance, with the figures arranged in a circular pattern. The artwork is also notable for its emphasis on capturing the spiritual and emotional essence of the subjects, rather than merely representing their physical appearance.

    The painting is dominated by earthy tones, with touches of blue and green, creating a sense of naturalism and harmony.

    The brushwork is expressive and bold, with visible strokes and textures adding to the emotional intensity of the artwork.

    The composition is balanced and harmonious, with the figures arranged in a circular pattern, creating a sense of unity and cohesion.

    Les Bretonnes is a significant work in the context of Post-Impressionism, showcasing the artist's unique style and contribution to the movement. As a handmade oil painting reproduction, it can be appreciated for its beauty and emotional depth, making it a valuable addition to any art collection. For more information on Paul Serusier and his works, visit the AllPaintingsStore.com website.

    The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria, is also home to numerous notable artworks, including the Gipsy Madonna by Tiziano Vecellio (Titian).

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Paul Sérusier

    Born in Paris, France

    early life and education

    paul sérusier, a french painter, was born on november 9, 1864, in paris. he studied at the académie julian, where he became a monitor in the mid-1880s. this marked the beginning of his artistic journey, which would eventually lead him to pioneer abstract art and inspire the avant-garde nabis movement, synthetism, and cloisonnism.

    artistic career

    in the summer of 1888, sérusier traveled to pont-aven, where he joined a small group of artists centered around paul gauguin. under gauguin's close supervision, sérusier painted "the talisman," an extreme exercise in cloisonnism that approximated pure abstraction. this piece showcased his innovative style and willingness to experiment with new techniques. as a post-impressionist painter, sérusier was part of the group les nabis, alongside pierre bonnard, édouard vuillard, and maurice denis. although not as widely recognized as some of his peers, sérusier's contributions to the development of abstract art are undeniable.

    notable works and legacy

    some of sérusier's notable works include:

    l'averse (1893), musée d'orsay, paris

    portrait of paul ranson (1890), musée d'orsay, paris

    melancholy (1890)

    the snake eaters (1894), muzeum narodowe, warsaw

    sérusier's later years saw him teaching at the académie ranson and publishing his book "abc de la peinture" in 1921. he passed away on october 7, 1927, in morlaix.

    artistic movement and influence

    sérusier's work was influenced by cloisonnism, a style characterized by bold and flat forms separated by dark contours. this movement, which emerged in the late 19th century, played a significant role in shaping the development of modern art.

    explore more on cloisonnism: the cloisonnism art movement

    discover sérusier's work: paul serusier | AllPaintingsStore.com

    learn about the nabis movement: the nabis art movement

    key takeaways: * paul sérusier was a french painter who pioneered abstract art and inspired the nabis movement. he studied at the académie julian and later taught at the académie ranson. sérusier's work was influenced by cloisonnism, a style characterized by bold and flat forms.

    Where to read more

    • The artist Paul Sérusier originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/paul-serusier/
    • Similar works More works to compare originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/paul-serusier-les-bretonnes-8YDDJ7-en/

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Les Bretonnes

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/paul-serusier-les-bretonnes-8YDDJ7-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Sérusier, Paul. Les Bretonnes. 1891, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/paul-serusier-les-bretonnes-8YDDJ7-en/
    APA
    Sérusier, Paul (1891). Les Bretonnes [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/paul-serusier-les-bretonnes-8YDDJ7-en/
    Chicago
    Paul Sérusier. Les Bretonnes. 1891. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/paul-serusier-les-bretonnes-8YDDJ7-en/
    Harvard
    Sérusier, Paul (1891) Les Bretonnes. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/paul-serusier-les-bretonnes-8YDDJ7-en/

    Look closely

    Les Bretonnes — Paul Sérusier

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at Roof Tops in Paris, earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. Post-Impressionism: Artists who kept the bright colour of Impressionism but pushed shape and feeling further than the eye really sees. Where can you see that in this work?
    5. Paul Sérusier was about 27 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Questions & Answers

    Is "Les Bretonnes" more bright or more dark overall?

    "Les Bretonnes" is deep_shadow overall, and its luminance is dark.

    How do I discover artworks close to "Les Bretonnes" by Paul Sérusier?

    The Similars page of "Les Bretonnes" by Paul Sérusier presents related artworks.

    How much light do the colors of "Les Bretonnes" appear to reflect?

    The colors of "Les Bretonnes" show a dark luminance.