Moses Smiteth the Rock in the Desert 1902

James Tissot, a 19th-century French painter, created this watercolor, rendering a scene from the Old Testament when Moses strikes a rock, unleashing water for the Israelites in the desert. At first glance, Tissot’s painting seems to simply illustrate a biblical story, but his art often reflected his complex relationship with faith and modernity. Born in France and having spent time in London, Tissot moved back to France after experiencing antisemitism. Later he would devote his artistic practice to biblical scenes, as a turn towards a renewed faith. There's something deeply human in the way Tissot depicts this moment. The figures surrounding Moses exhibit a range of reactions, from awe to relief, revealing the emotional and physical toll of their desert journey. Interestingly, Tissot chooses to focus on the faces and gestures of the crowd, inviting viewers to contemplate their experiences and question our own relationships with faith and doubt. Tissot's art invites us to consider not only the religious narrative, but also the collective identity, and what it means to seek solace and meaning in a world marked by uncertainty and change.