The Prophet Isaiah 1533

"The Prophet Isaiah" was made by Valentin Bousch around 1534 from stained glass and vitreous paint. Note how the figure of Isaiah dominates the circular composition; his form, with its sharp lines and contrasting colours, immediately draws the eye. Bousch uses line to create texture, look at the beard and robes, and how the light filters through the glass to animate the scene. The structural symmetry of the piece is striking. Bousch has employed a balanced structure, positioning Isaiah centrally, flanked by architectural elements. This creates a semiotic dialogue between divine inspiration, represented by the prophet, and the man-made world symbolized by the desk and books. What are we to make of the limited colour palette? The blues and yellows evoke a sense of the ethereal, while the browns and reds ground the figure, creating a symbolic interplay between the heavens and earth. This stained-glass piece isn't merely decorative; it's a carefully constructed argument, a visual discourse that invites us to consider the relationship between text, image, and faith.