The artwork, titled “Annunciation” by James Tissot, created circa 1886 to 1896, is a religious painting executed in gouache on paper. It belongs to the Symbolism art movement and is currently housed in the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, NY, US.
This evocative painting represents the biblical scene of the Annunciation, wherein the angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will conceive and become the mother of Jesus Christ. The artist captures a moment of divine revelation with striking use of light and shadow. Mary, depicted in humble repose, is swathed in flowing white garments, her posture a blend of reverence and contemplation. To the left, the angel is rendered in an ethereal, almost otherworldly manner, enveloped in radiating blue and white hues that interplay dramatically with the dimly lit interior of the surrounding space. The setting is simplified yet textured, focusing the viewer’s attention on the heavenly encounter. This composition by Tissot masterfully conveys the serenity and sanctity of this pivotal moment in Christian theology.
