The Prodigal Son In Modern Life, the Fatted Calf 1882

James Tissot likely painted this scene with oil on canvas. In the foreground, notice the prodigal son, his clothes speaking of labor and the outdoors; compare these to the sartorial choices of his family members. The crisp white tablecloth hints at bourgeois life. The large silver serving dish dominates the composition, reflecting light and implying wealth. Consider the amount of work required to produce the meal underneath that cloche, and the silver itself. From mining the raw materials to its crafting, polishing, and care, the silver is not merely an object, it is an accumulation of labor. These objects create a division, a boundary between those who do and don’t participate in the labor of the home. By examining the materials and the making, we see how this painting goes beyond a simple narrative, engaging with issues of labor, class, and social division.