Life of Christ. Eglise Saint-Sulpice de Fougères (detail) 1919

Ludovic Alleaume created this section of a stained-glass window for the Église Saint-Sulpice de Fougères, using hand-painted glass and lead came. The inherent qualities of glass – its transparency, color, and ability to refract light – dictate the artwork’s appearance. The production of stained glass is a labor-intensive process, involving skilled glassblowers to make the sheets, and artisans who cut the glass into shapes, paint details with enamel, and fire the pieces to fuse the paint. Finally, the glass is assembled using lead strips. The level of work and craftsmanship involved is considerable. Although we think of stained glass as belonging to the history of fine art, it is deeply connected to the decorative arts and craft traditions. The rich colors and narrative imagery served a didactic purpose, making stories of the bible accessible to a largely illiterate population. Alleaume’s window beautifully demonstrates how materials, making, and context intertwine to create meaning, blurring the boundaries between art and craft.