DIVISIONISM. - Name of a particular painting technique linked to Impressionism and the scientific theories of color. The principle on which it is based is determined by the scientifically proven fact that, by arranging complementary hues destined to form a specific color into thin, alternating filaments, these appear fused to an observer at a certain distance, thus forming the desired color that would otherwise result from the mixture of the hues themselves. Moreover, the hues arranged in this way maintain a greater capacity for light refraction, hence the increased luminosity of the color.
In practice, given the slow, meticulous technical procedure required and the difficulties that arise from it, the desired effect is not always achieved, as amply demonstrated not only by the works of major Italian Divisionists such as Victor Grubicy, Gaetano Previati, Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo, Giovanni Segantini, Plinio Nomellini, etc., but also by those of the French pointillists, whose technique is based on similar principles.