The Boats

Paul Signac

1895

A lithograph in which Signac uses small, discrete dabs of color to render sailing ships and a shimmering sea, aiming to capture shifting light and atmosphere rather than photographic detail.

You first notice a pale golden haze pierced by soft blue silhouettes of tall ships, while the water is built from rhythmic, mosaic-like dashes that make the scene seem to flicker and glow.

By translating his pointillist color theory into print, Signac helped make Neo‑Impressionist ideas portable and visible, demonstrating how optical color mixing could convey light, motion, and modern seafaring life.

Palette

Exhibitions

Color Reproductions: Modern Watercolors and Pastels

1934

The Lillie P. Bliss Collection, 1934

1934

French Paintings from the Molyneux Collection

1952

Memorial Exhibition: The Collection of the Late Lillie P. Bliss

1931