James Tissot
1836–1902 · 8 works
James Tissot made modern social life a subject of patient, exacting observation. Born in Nantes, he built a career in Paris before moving to London in 1871. His paintings of fashionable gatherings give clothing and furnishings unusual prominence, but their interest extends to the distances and glances between people. A polished surface can contain an ambiguous encounter. Tissot also worked in printmaking, and later devoted much of his art to biblical subjects. Comparing these different works reveals a sustained interest in telling a story through carefully staged details.
8 works · 1876–1883
Choose a scene with several people. What do their positions and directions of looking suggest before you read the title?
