The artwork titled “Moses Slays an Egyptian” was created by the artist James Tissot approximately between the years 1896 and 1902. It is executed in gouache on board, a medium that involves using opaque watercolors mixed with a binding agent, which gives the painting a distinctive matte finish. This work is a part of the Symbolism art movement, characterized by the use of symbolic images and motifs to express mystical ideas, emotions, and states of mind. The piece measures 28.5 by 17.3 centimeters and falls under the genre of religious painting, depicting a narrative drawn from spiritual or sacred texts.
In the artwork, the narrative moment depicts a dramatic scene where Moses is seen in the act of slaying an Egyptian. The setting appears to be an arid landscape, likely the desert, with a grove of slender, tall palm trees that stretch vertically across the background, emphasizing the height and slender form of these trees. The space suggests an Egyptian locale, hinted at by the architectural elements peeking through the gaps between the trunks in the background.
In the foreground, two male figures are engaged in a violent encounter. The figure on the right, presumed to be Moses due to the title of the work, is depicted with a powerful build and is caught in the act of striking down the Egyptian assailant. Moses’s expression is one of intense focus and determination, and he is depicted as having a full head of wavy hair, a thick beard, and wearing a simple, white garment wrapped around his waist. The figure of the Egyptian is captured in a moment of vulnerability, with one arm raised defensively and his body recoiling from the impact of Moses’s aggression.
The use of light and shadow in this composition is subtle, with the main illumination seeming to come from the top left, casting shadows to the right and underscoring the tension in the scene. The choice of color is muted, with earth tones and the green of the palm leaves, which may be indicative of the Symbolist movement’s preference for evocative rather than realistic color palettes. The work conveys a sense of dynamic motion and profound emotion, capturing the fervor of the biblical episode in which Moses takes the life of an Egyptian to defend a Hebrew slave, a moment that is pivotal to his transformation into the leader of the Israelites.
