Study for ‘Le Chahut’ by Georges Seurat

This is a preparatory oil sketch on panel executed circa 1889 by the Neo-Impressionist master Georges Seurat. Measuring 21.8 by 15.8 cm, the work is a prime example of the Pointillist technique, utilizing small, distinct dots of pure color—primarily blue, yellow, green, and pink—to create a luminous, vibrating scene of a Parisian cabaret dance. The composition depicts dancers in dynamic, upward-striving poses (a characteristic of Seurat’s 'upward line' theory of gaiety), with a musician’s double bass in the lower-left foreground and his back toward the viewer in the center-bottom. The application of paint is rhythmic and structured, showing the artist's meticulous scientific approach to color theory and optics. The panel is housed in a dark, potentially artist-painted or integral wooden frame that shows minor signs of age-related wear and texture. Notable for its historical provenance, it was bequeathed by Samuel Courtauld and remains a critical study for the larger final version. The condition appears stable with a rich, matte impasto typical of Seurat's oils on wood, showcasing excellent preservation for a 19th-century post-impressionist artifact. There are no visible major cracks or losses, and the dabs of paint retain high saturation and clarity.