Pointillism is a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image. Developed in 1886 by Georges Seurat and Paul Signac, it was a branch of Post-Impressionism. The technique relies on the ability of the eye and mind of the viewer to mix the color spots into a fuller range of tones. Seurat called this 'Chromoluminarism,' but critics mockingly dubbed it 'Pointillism,' and the name stuck. His most famous work, 'A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,' took two years to complete and contains millions of tiny dots. This approach was highly scientific, influenced by contemporary theories on color perception and optics. It required immense patience and planning, a stark contrast to the spontaneous and rapid brushwork often seen in traditional Impressionism.