The Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ 1886 - 1894

James Tissot painted "The Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ" in watercolor, a medium that lends itself to the emotional intimacy of the scene. Tissot, a 19th-century French painter, converted to Catholicism in his mid-fifties. Here, the scene is strikingly domestic. Mary, veiled and humble, is positioned in the shelter of a stable with the new born Christ. The male figures typically found in traditional nativity scenes are absent, shifting the focus to Mary’s experience and her profound role in the story. There is a sense of quiet, maternal strength and devotion. Tissot’s decision to represent the birth of Christ in such an intimate way invites us to consider the complex intersections of faith, gender, and identity. As you stand before this artwork, consider how Tissot uses simplicity to convey the profound mystery of faith.