HELENE BAILLY is an art gallery in Paris that showcases major works of Neo-Impressionism, featuring artists such as Georges Seurat, Paul Signac, Henri-Edmond Cross, and Théo Van Rysselberghe.

Born in the mid-1880s, Neo-Impressionism is distinguished by a scientific approach to color, inherited from Impressionism.

In fact, the critic Félix Fénéon coined the term in 1886 to describe the innovative works of Georges Seurat and Paul Signac, the leading figures of the movement. These artists rejected the mixing of pigments on the palette: instead, they applied pure colors in small, juxtaposed dots, using the technique known as Pointillism (or Divisionism), so that the colors would blend in the viewer’s eye.

Neo-Impressionist paintings thus offer vibrant light and an unparalleled harmony of tones. Based on contemporary optical theories, this method demands great precision in execution while producing paintings with unique poetry and luminosity. The result, driven by artists such as Henri-Edmond Cross or Maximilien Luce, is an art that is both methodical and deeply emotional. These elements effectively summarize the main characteristics of Neo-Impressionism.

The enduring appeal of this movement is evident even today: in late 2021, the Musée d'Orsay dedicated an exhibition to Paul Signac as a collector, highlighting the influence and legacy of the Neo-Impressionists in art history.