James Tissot (1836-1902) captured the elegance and confidence of the French ruling class, from the toes of their well-polished shoes to their silk top hats. In an early sign of Anglophilia, Tissot changed his name from Jacques Joseph to James at the age of 11. A French woman masquerades as a geisha, her kimono opened to show small, round breasts and a waxed pubis. Tissot’s two-volume Life of Christ became a worldwide bestseller that influenced film-makers including DW Griffith, Cecil B DeMille and Martin Scorsese. James Tissot, the Ambiguous Figure of Modernity is at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris until September 13th, 2020

Source: The Irish Times July 11, 2020 03:56 UTC