Seated Woman with a Parasol (study for La Grande Jatte)

"Seated Woman with a Parasol (study for La Grande Jatte)" is a preparatory work by French artist Georges Seurat, created in the late 19th century, specifically around 1884-1885. This painting serves as a study for Seurat's larger and more famous work, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte," which was completed in 1886. The study depicts a woman seated on the grass, holding a parasol, and is characterized by Seurat's innovative use of pointillism, a technique involving the application of small dots of color to create a cohesive image. The composition reflects Seurat's interest in capturing the leisure activities of the Parisian bourgeoisie during the late 19th century. The work is notable for its exploration of light, color, and form, which would be further developed in the final painting. "Seated Woman with a Parasol" is currently housed in a private collection, and its significance lies in its role as a crucial step in the development of Seurat's artistic vision.

"Seated Woman with a Parasol (study for La Grande Jatte)" by Georges Seurat is a preparatory drawing executed in black Conté crayon on ivory laid paper. The composition features a seated female figure, depicted in profile, holding a parasol that extends outward, creating a sense of depth and spatial relationship. The figure is rendered with a focus on the contours and drapery of her clothing, emphasizing the play of light and shadow across the fabric. Seurat's characteristic pointillist technique is not present in this study, yet the drawing exhibits a meticulous attention to line and form. The background remains minimally defined, allowing the viewer's focus to remain on the figure. The overall composition reflects Seurat's interest in the interplay of light and the depiction of leisure activities in urban settings, which would later be fully realized in his major work, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte."