Poplars
1883-1884
Long before he became famous for his tiny, colorful dots, Georges Seurat was mastering the magic of light and shadow using nothing but dark, grainy strokes. In this moody sketch, he captures a grove of poplar trees where the trunks seem to dissolve into the darkness, letting only slivers of light pierce through the canopy. The heavy texture gives the forest an almost vibrating energy, proving that you don't need a rainbow of colors to create a scene that practically glows. It is a fascinating glimpse into the early experiments of a Post-Impressionist giant just before he revolutionized art with Pointillism.
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