Joan of Arc before God 1901

Luc-Olivier Merson made this painting, Joan of Arc before God, with oil. I’m really struck by the blue in this painting. It's layered with a violet hue that casts a strong presence in the composition of the image. Looking at the faces in the painting, they seem to have a lot of attention to detail, while other areas of the painting, like the robes on the characters, have broader, more expressive strokes. It’s the juxtaposition of these different approaches to painting that gives the piece its energy. What I appreciate about this work is its commitment to visual complexity, its refusal to be easily understood. It reminds me of the work of Odilon Redon. Both artists allow their paintings to embrace ambiguity and multiple interpretations rather than fixed meanings.