Les Îles d’Or, îles d’Hyères (Var), 1891-1892

In 1891, the painters Seurat and Signac developed divisionism, an artistic and scientific concept on color which draws on optical theories. Very quickly, Henri Edmond Cross (1856-1910) applied it in his marine landscapes. The Golden Isles
is almost an abstract work, composed of several horizontal, colored bands, which allow for the beach, sea, and sky to be distinguished from one another. In reference to Japanese print techniques, Cross placed the horizon high in the image, making the sea the focus of the composition. The light, which is reflected on the surface, characterised by many golden touches, appears to be the main subject.
Settled in the French Midi, Cross painted the sea by meticulously juxtaposing his pastels with pure colors. His Edenesque landscapes evoke a golden age, and characterizes a painting approach that is more symbolic than Seurat and Signac.