At first glance this painting depicts a moment in time: the view on a canal, in the direction of the sea. Yet the intention of this painting goes beyond that. Seurat uses colour, lines and depiction to represent something that goes deeper than the visible reality: a tranquil representation of the world around him reduced to its essence. The pointillist technique of separated colours captures the rippling of water and the haziness of the sky. The parallel lines, for instance the diagonal of the quay and the beam, and the slanting and vertical masts of the boats, all contribute to the peace and quiet this painting exudes. This rhythmic repetition as part of the composition is typical for Seurat’s paintings.
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