Jezebel Advises Ahab c. 1896 - 1902

James Tissot crafted this watercolor, "Jezebel Advises Ahab," capturing a biblical scene rife with intrigue. Here, Jezebel stands tall, adorned in elaborate fabrics and jewelry, a stark contrast to Ahab, who cowers, almost fetal in posture. Her regal bearing is not merely decorative; it’s a visual assertion of power. The headdress, a symbol of authority, echoes in countless images across cultures—from ancient Egyptian royalty to Renaissance monarchs—each iteration a claim to dominance, each a symbol of control. Consider her hand raised to her head. It's a gesture of contemplation, or perhaps manipulation, mirrored in poses of figures from antiquity to modernity. Through the centuries, the gesture has taken on various shades, yet always remains evocative, suggesting a deep, often calculating, inner life. This is the power of the image—a non-linear, cyclical dance across time.