The artwork entitled “Moses Smiteth the Rock in the Desert” is a creation by artist James Tissot, dating approximately from 1896 to 1902. Executed in gouache on board, the piece is associated with the Symbolism movement and falls into the genre of religious painting.
In the artwork, the central figure of Moses is depicted with a commanding presence, clad in long, flowing robes. The scene illustrates the biblical story where Moses, by God’s command, strikes a rock to bring forth water for the thirsty Israelites. The miraculous nature of the event is underlined by the attentive crowd of Israelites surrounding Moses, many of whom carry vessels to collect the water gushing from the rock.
Tissot’s use of color and composition enables the viewer to focus on Moses, whose action is both a pivotal and a powerful moment in the narrative. The attire of the figures, along with the arid landscape, is rendered with a great attention to detail, typical of Tissot’s work, infusing the artwork with a sense of authenticity and reverence. The deft application of gouache gives the piece its luminous quality, revealing Tissot’s mastery of the medium and contributing to the overall solemn atmosphere characteristic of Symbolist religious works.
