Segantini 18: Ragazza che fa la calza – Strickendes Mädchen, 1888

Divisionism and Symbolism

In Savognin, Segantini finds colour from his dark-toned early work. The mountain landscape with its clear light inspired the artist to a new pictorial language. Shortly after his arrival in Savognin, Segantini learns about a new way of painting: the colors are applied unmixed to the canvas, seen from a distance they merge into intense and vivid color surfaces. Segantini continues to develop the new technology. He places thin, often complementary brushstrokes next to each other, thereby increasing the luminosity and intensity of the images. In Divisionism he found an artistic form of expression, thanks to which the mountains shine in a new light in his paintings. During his time in Savognin, Segantini increasingly turned to symbolism: the communication of feeling and ideal became more important than loyalty to nature and facts.

Im audio you can hear Segantini begin to use the divisionist painting technique in his 2nd version of the picture «Ave Maria bei der Überfahrt». The audio file can be found at the back of the pictures.