Joseph Interprets the Dreams While In Prison 1902

James Tissot made this watercolor, Joseph Interprets the Dreams While In Prison, and it’s all about the subtleties, you know? The subdued palette of browns and muted blues creates a contemplative mood. It is like the paint is barely there, so thin, almost like a memory. You can feel the artist feeling his way through the story. Look at Joseph's raised index finger—it’s not just a gesture. It is a symbol of divine wisdom, and, the light seems to catch it just so. The way the watercolor bleeds into the paper in the background feels like a wash of uncertainty. The bars behind the prisoners emphasize that they are literally trapped in their circumstances. Tissot has this quality of intimacy, which reminds me of Bonnard. Both artists can make quiet paintings that speak volumes. Art, like dreams, offers us different perspectives. Isn't it interesting how we can find new layers of meaning each time we look?