Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dream 1902

James Tissot, sometime in the late 1800's, rendered "Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dream" with such soft watercolors, it feels like he must have been chasing the light, trying to pin down some fleeting thought, one brushstroke at a time. I can imagine him in his studio, surrounded by sketches, each one a little different, a little closer to capturing the essence of this scene. It's fascinating to think about how he built up these layers of color, how each stroke informs the next, creating a sense of depth and texture. The way he handled the fabric, for example, with these subtle variations in tone, you can almost feel the weight of it. And that gesture of Joseph’s hand—pointing as he speaks, that feels just right, doesn't it? Painters are always in conversation with each other, with those who came before, and those who will come after. And so we are all involved in an ongoing exchange of ideas, building upon what others have done, while forging our own paths.