The Return of Young Tobie 1918

Maurice Denis painted "The Return of Young Tobie" with oil on canvas, in France at the turn of the century. Denis was a member of the Nabis, a group of Post-Impressionist avant-garde artists who saw themselves as mystics. Denis imbues a biblical scene with a domestic, everyday quality. The figures are rendered in a simplified, almost childlike style, emphasizing their innocence and purity. In terms of the politics of imagery, the artist draws from a long tradition of Christian art but recasts it with an eye toward modern life. The setting resembles a beach in Brittany, a region of France with a strong Catholic identity. Here, the religious and the secular intermingle, making the sacred seem accessible and relevant to contemporary audiences. To understand Denis's vision, one might consult writings about the Nabis, as well as historical studies of religion and art in fin-de-siècle France. The meaning of art always depends on its social and institutional context.