The Departure of the Prodigal Son 1862 - 1863

James Tissot rendered this watercolor entitled "The Departure of the Prodigal Son," illustrating a pivotal scene from the biblical parable. Note the handing over of the inheritance: money equals freedom, opportunity, adventure, and the unknown, but also carries the risk of squandering it all. The motif of the departing figure, laden with worldly possessions, is one that echoes through art history—consider its resonance with depictions of the expulsion from Eden. We find similar themes across cultures. Think of the hero leaving home in search of fortune, only to return stripped of illusions. The church steeples in the background are cultural remnants that offer stability and act as a visual reminder of the values he is turning away from. This push and pull between traditional and modern values, faith and worldly pleasure, plays out in Tissot's composition. It is a powerful representation of a timeless human drama—the allure and danger of independence.