Sunset, Herblay, Opus 206

Using the complementary colours blue and orange, Signac captures the rich, atmospheric glow of a sunset at Herblay, a village on the river Seine. Intent on capturing a particular quality of light, Signac applies his paint using dabs and patches, rather than the rigid dots of Pointillism.

Notice how Signac has inscribed 'Opus 206' in the lower right hand corner - just as a piece of music might be numbered. Signac believed that his method of painting, combining colours that were divided and then harmonized, was like musical composition.

Credit: Gifted by H M Government by whom accepted in lieu of estate duty, 1976