Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Eglise Saint-Sulpice de Fougères (detail) 1919

Ludovic Alleaume made this stained glass piece, a detail from Jesus and the Samaritan woman in Église Saint-Sulpice de Fougères, using colored glass and lead. The process itself, cutting and arranging these vibrant pieces, feels almost like building with light. What strikes me here is the plant life, the careful brushstrokes creating those spiky cacti. The green is so alive, each pad a slightly different hue, punctuated by the golden flowers. It’s not just representation; it’s about the materiality, the way light transforms the glass, gives it a kind of breathing quality. The black outlines are so bold, they have a real graphic impact. And it makes me think of Matisse, of course, who also knew how to make color sing, how to flatten space and let the colors do the talking. This piece reminds me of the way he uses color to evoke emotion and create a visual experience that is both simple and profound. Art is such a great conversation, isn’t it?