The Glory of Joseph 1902

James Tissot’s, The Glory of Joseph, has no date attached to it but it feels like an impressionist rendering of a biblical scene, made using watercolor and gouache on paper. I am struck by how the artist’s process seems really present. Tissot's layered approach gives the artwork a dreamlike quality; the way he builds up colors and forms is visible, and it creates an almost tactile feel to it. You can see the traces of his hand, the subtle washes of color, and the delicate details of the figures. There is a particular area, just to the bottom left, where the rendering of the kneeling man is left unfinished, but the negative space around him feels charged with emotion. This piece reminds me of the work of Paula Rego, in that both artists manage to capture something very personal through a bold application of color and expressive mark making. Ultimately, Tissot’s artwork speaks to the idea that art is an ongoing conversation, with each artist building upon the ideas and techniques of those who came before them.