Radical Harmony: The Dazzling World of Neo-Impressionism
Just moments from One Aldwych, The National Gallery’s radiant new exhibition Radical Harmony: Helene Kröller-Müller’s Neo-Impressionists celebrates a bold chapter in modern art. It brings together masterpieces by Seurat, Van Gogh, Signac, Pissarro and others, each exploring how pure colour and light could reshape the way we see the world.
The story begins with Georges Seurat, whose revolutionary technique of painting in tiny dots of colour, later known as pointillism, transformed 19th-century art. From a distance, these dots fuse into shimmering light and nuance; up close, they dissolve into abstraction. Seurat’s vision was one of quiet radicalism, capturing the energy of modern life through a scientific precision that felt almost dreamlike.
Among the highlights of the exhibition is Seurat’s Le Chahut (1889–90), a rhythmic celebration of Parisian cabaret. Dancers and musicians blur into a pulsating haze of reds, purples and golds, each figure built entirely from points of colour. As The Guardian notes, Seurat’s “kaleidoscope eyes” saw beauty in the ordinary, transforming even the most mechanical scenes into something magical and modern. His successors, such as Paul Signac, Anna Boch, Jan Toorop and Henri-Edmond Cross, continued this exploration of light and harmony, combining their luminous palettes with the spirit of social change that defined the late-19th century.
Much of what you see at The National Gallery was collected by Helene Kröller-Müller, one of the early 20th century’s most remarkable patrons. Her collection, meticulously assembled to share with the public, now forms the heart of the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands, whose collaboration with the National Gallery has made Radical Harmony possible. Her eye for both beauty and meaning threads through the exhibition, from Seurat’s visionary scenes to Signac’s tranquil landscapes.
For those of us at One Aldwych, this celebration of artistic innovation feels particularly resonant. Art has always been part of our story, woven through our interiors in more than 400 works of contemporary sculpture and painting. From the carved limestone head of Dionysus sat next to our reception to The Boatman overlooking the Lobby Bar, every piece is chosen to provoke thought and delight; a living gallery that evolves alongside the hotel itself.
Our ongoing partnership with The National Gallery reflects that same spirit of creativity and collaboration. Together, we celebrate art in all its forms, from the brilliance of the Neo-Impressionists to the contemporary works that define One Aldwych. Guests can now experience this shared passion through our exclusive experiences, whether with an Art Lovers Stay including tickets to the gallery and art-inspired cocktails in the Lobby Bar, or by pairing culture and cuisine with a two-course lunch in Indigo before or after a visit to the exhibition.
In every detail, it is a partnership built on a mutual love of art; a chance to explore, reflect and be inspired by beauty, both within the gallery and just around the corner at One Aldwych.
