Entrance to the port of Marseille

Marseille's harbour is one of the great Mediterranean port subjects, and Signac painted its entrance in 1898 from a position capturing the lighthouse-guarded channel through which ships pass. This canvas at the Kröller-Müller Museum is one of several Signac port views in their collection. Marseille's brilliant southern light suited his divisionist colour system particularly well, allowing the full saturation of complementary contrasts the method could achieve. The city was also an important transit point for his sailing voyages around the Mediterranean coast.

The strong Mediterranean light produces Signac's most saturated divisionist palette — vivid blues and orange-golds predominating, with complementary contrasts at maximum intensity. The lighthouse and harbour wall provide geometric anchors against the shimmering sea surface.