Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Eglise Saint-Sulpice de Fougères (detail) 1919

Ludovic Alleaume made this stained glass image of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the church Saint-Sulpice de Fougères. I just love the deep blue of her dress and the way it glows, and that red pot she's filling with water looks so heavy. I can imagine Alleaume, carefully selecting each piece of colored glass, thinking about how the light will pass through and transform the space. What’s so exciting about colored glass is how it can convey weight and depth but also this ethereal lightness. Look at the texture of the white cloth wrapped around her head, so delicate, so thin. It reminds me of the veils painters like Titian used to paint! I can almost feel the weight of the clay pot, the cool smoothness of the glass, and the satisfying pull of the rope. Artists are always in conversation with each other across time. Alleaume’s deep understanding of how color and light work together and how he uses different materials helps me think about my own painting practice. It's like we're all just passing notes back and forth, trying to figure out how to make something that speaks to the soul.