Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Eglise Saint-Sulpice de Fougères (1er registre. Résurrection de la fille de Jaïre) 1919

This stained glass artwork, made by Ludovic Alleaume, likely involved a patient and methodical process of cutting and piecing together colored glass. The predominant colors are blues, whites, and greens, giving the artwork a serene, ethereal quality. I imagine the artist carefully selecting each piece of glass, considering its hue and texture, and how it would interact with the surrounding colors. There must have been a deep engagement with the narrative they were trying to convey. The gestures of the figures, such as the Samaritan woman reaching out to Jesus, carry a weight of emotion and meaning. You can see it in the tilt of the head, the angle of the body. It’s all very carefully composed, and it speaks to the artist’s intention of imbuing the artwork with both spiritual significance and emotional resonance. Stained glass is like painting, it’s a tradition where artists are always in conversation with one another through time, inspiring creativity in themselves and others. This art form is an embodied expression which embraces ambiguity, inviting multiple interpretations over time.