“The Prodigal Son in Modern Life: The Departure,” painted by James Tissot in 1880, is an oil-on-canvas artwork that belongs to the Realism art movement. Measuring 130 by 100 centimeters, it falls under the genre painting category and is currently housed in the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nantes in Nantes, France.
The artwork presents a domestic scene set in a well-appointed room illuminated by natural light streaming through large windows. At the center of the composition, a young man preparing for departure is the focal point, depicted standing while being attended to by an older man seated nearby. The young man appears to be in the act of tying his necktie, suggesting readiness for a journey. The older man, presumably his father, gazes at him with a concerned or sorrowful expression, perhaps underscoring the gravity of the moment. To their right, at the table, two other figures can be seen; one is a woman engrossed in her needlework while the other is a contemplative man gazing out the window, lost in thought. The room is furnished with elegant wooden furniture, exuding a sense of comfort and warmth, while the background details like the ships visible through the window hint at the outside world that beckons. The overall tone and intricate detail of the painting encapsulate themes of departure, familial bonds, and the tension between home and the broader world.
