Divisionism

DIVISIONISM. - Name of a particular painting technique connected with Impressionism and with scientific theories of color. The principle on which it is based is determined by the fact, scientifically demonstrated, that by arranging in thin alternating filaments the complementary tints intended to form a given color, these, to the observer placed at a given distance, appear fused, thus forming the desired color, which otherwise would have resulted from the mixture of those same tints. On the other hand, the tints thus arranged retain a greater capacity for luminous refraction, whence the greater luminosity of the color.

In practice, given the slow, meticulous technical procedure required and the difficulties that arise from it, the effect aspired to is not always obtained, as is amply demonstrated not only by the works of the major Italian Divisionists such as Victor Grubicy, Gaetano Previati, Giuseppe Pelizza da Volpedo, Giovanni Segantini, Plinio Nomellini, etc., but also by those of the French pointillistes, whose technique is based on analogous principles.

Emilio Lavagnino