Paul Signac

Born. 11.11.1863 in Paris
Died. 15.08.1935 in Paris

Impressionist and Pointelist

About the artist

Paul Signac was born on 11 November 1863 in Paris. While studying to be an architect he was so enthralled by Claude Monet’s work at one of his exhibitions that he decided to start a career in painting.

Three years later he met Claude Monet and Georges Seurat. He admired Seurat’s working methods and his theory of colours. With Seurat’s influence, he experimented with small dots of pure colour, the advent of Pointillism.

Signac loved painting the coastline in the south of France and bought a house so that he could paint with his friends in the summer.

Experimentation was something that interested Signac. As well as oil paintings and watercolors he liked to try lots of different drawing techniques.

Neo-Impressionism influenced the next generation of artists. Artists were inspired by Signac’s works and with ongoing styles playing an important role as Fauvism, a style not favoured by Signac, took centre stage.

As president of the Société des Artistes Indépendants, from 1908 until his death, Signac adapted to change and was happy to encourage the next artist generation and their artistic trends.

Paul Signac died from sepsis in Paris on 15 August 1935 at the age of 71.