Jesus Meets His Mother (Jésus rencontre sa mère) 

James Tissot created "Jesus Meets His Mother" using watercolor over graphite. The eye is drawn immediately to the center where figures in robes meet, and Christ is stooped under the weight of the cross. Tissot's use of perspective and line converge to amplify the emotional tension. The angular cross cuts diagonally across the composition creating a division between the chaotic crowd and the intimate moment of recognition. The use of earth tones enhances the realism while also reinforcing the somber mood. Tissot challenges traditional religious art by focusing on the human aspect of the divine, stripping away some of the iconic symbolism to highlight raw emotion. This work destabilizes the conventional portrayal of religious events by emphasizing a realistic, almost journalistic approach. Note how the texture and detail, achieved through watercolor, render the scene with an immediacy that invites a personal and reflective engagement with the subject matter.