Young Woman in a Rocking Chair, study for the painting ‘The Last Evening’ c. 1873

James Tissot created this study in preparation for his painting ‘The Last Evening’. The woman, eyes downcast, sits in a rocking chair, hands clasped pensively – a pose heavy with introspection. Consider the motif of clasped hands: a gesture seen across centuries, from praying figures in medieval art to grieving women in classical sculpture. These hands, expressing inner turmoil, connect to a collective memory of mourning and reflection. It appears that Tissot consciously or unconsciously, tapped into this wellspring of shared human experience. This gesture can be traced through artistic history, its presence evolving and adapting. Tissot masterfully utilizes such deeply embedded gestures. This image evokes intense psychological states, inviting viewers to confront their own experiences of loss and longing. The rocking chair, a symbol of domesticity and comfort, here becomes a stage for inner drama. It is a place for reflection and meditation, where individuals confront their deepest selves.