Artist of the Day, June 12, 2023: James Tissot, a French painter, illustrator, and caricaturist (#1825)

Jacques Joseph Tissot (1836 –1902), better known as James Tissot, was a French painter, illustrator, and caricaturist. He was born to a drapery merchant and a milliner and decided to pursue a career in art at a young age, coming to incorporate elements of realism, early Impressionism, and academic art into his work. He is best known for a variety of genre paintings of contemporary European high society produced during the peak of his career, which focused on the people and women's fashion of the Belle Époque and Victorian England, but would also explore many Medieval, Biblical, and Japoniste subjects throughout his life. His career included work as a caricaturist for Vanity Fair under the pseudonym of Coïdé.

Tissot served in the Franco-Prussian War on the side of France and later the Paris Commune before moving to London in 1871, where he would find further success as an artist as well as meet Irishwoman Kathleen Newton, who came to live with him as a close companion and muse until her death in 1882. Tissot maintained close relations with the Impressionist movement for much of his life, including James Abbott Whistler and friend and mentee Edgar Degas. He was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 1894.

© 2023. All content on this blog is protected by international copyright laws All images are copyrighted © by James Tissot or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only

James Tissot

Moses, circa 1897

Moses Defends Jethro’s Daughters, circa 1896–1902

Adam and Eve Driven From Paradise, circa 1896-1902

The Circus Lover (Les femmes de sport), circa 1885

L'Ambitieuse (Political Woman), circa 1885

Bridesmaid, circa 1885

Quiet, circa 1881

In Full Sunlight (En plein soleil), circa 1881

The Hammock, circa 1880

The Ball, circa 1880

Room Overlooking the Harbour, circa 1879

The Letter, circa 1878

Summer, circa 1878

October, circa 1877

The Gallery of HMS. Calcutta, circa 1876

 Holyday (The Picnic), circa 1876

The Bunch of Lilacs, circa 1875

 Spring Morning, circa 1875

In the Conservatory (Rivals), circa 1875

Hush! (The Concert), circa 1875

The Ball on Shipboard, circa 1874

Tea, circa 1872

Bad News, circa 1872

Partie Carrée, circa 1870

Young women looking at Japanese Articles, circa 1869

At the Rifle Range (The Crack Shot), circa 1869

Un Dejeuner (Breakfast), circa 1868

The Circle of the Rue Royale, circa 1868

Portrait of the Marquise de Miramon,  circa 1866

The Marquis and the Marquise de Miramon and their Children, circa 1865

Portrait of Mlle. L.L. (Young Lady in a Red Jacket), circa  1864