Jael Shows to Barak, Sisera Lying Dead 1902

James Tissot made this biblical scene, Jael Shows to Barak, Sisera Lying Dead, with watercolor. Just look at the way he’s used the watery medium to suggest the play of light on the tent flaps and the intricate fabrics. It’s all about process, watching the paint do its thing. The physical quality of the watercolor brings a luminous feel to the painting, even with such a grim subject. Sisera lying dead with a tent peg hammered into his head… it’s brutal, but it’s also strangely beautiful. The loose brushstrokes and translucent washes create a sense of immediacy, like we’re witnessing this scene unfold in real time. Notice how the colors pool and blend, creating soft edges and subtle gradations? Tissot seems to be in conversation with painters like Gerome, who were also interested in rendering historical scenes with a keen eye for detail, but with a softer touch that leaves space for interpretation. It's a reminder that art is always an ongoing exchange, a back-and-forth between artists and ideas.