Post-Impressionism emerged in the late nineteenth century as a continuation and transformation of the Impressionists’ exploration of light and color. Rather than capturing only the fleeting moment, Post-Impressionist painters emphasized individual expression and subjective interpretation. Paul Cézanne sought order through structure and composition, while Vincent van Gogh conveyed emotion with vibrant color and expressive brushwork.

Neo-Impressionism, a branch of Post-Impressionism, reflected the pursuit of a more systematic approach. Georges Seurat and Paul Signac developed Pointillism based on scientific color theory, applying small dots of color across the canvas that blended in the viewer’s eye to create light and form. Henri-Edmond Cross adapted these methods in his own style, later painting Mediterranean landscapes with bold, radiant colors. His experiments helped inspire the Fauvist painters of the next generation.