GEORGES SEURAT - 9

Embroidery,  The Artist's Mother
1882-83

Though Seurat created numerous portraits of his mother, none have the sense of calm and simplicity as seen in this drawing.  Note how her downcast eyes create an aura of modesty and suggest that she is involved in a quiet domesticity, such as embroidery.  She is plain, with her hair pulled back in a bun and has slightly thick features--a motherly look--unaware that she is being observed. 

Her presence is made more vague by the drawing technique Seurat called "irradiation," which avoided distinct lines and represented the subtleties of light and shadow through tones of a black crayon.

Seurat was very close with his mother, and this painting would have meant a lot to him.  In 1880, he dined with his mother almost every night.  Their close relationship and frequent contact meant that he did not need to look far for a subject with whom he was closely acquainted.  Seurat gave this drawing to his mother.