It Was a Religious Mystery - Maurice Denis

A delicate colour lithograph from the 1897 'Amour' series, capturing a quiet, mystical moment between two figures in the signature Nabis style.

This colour lithograph, titled 'It Was a Religious Mystery' (Le fut un religieux mystère), is a characteristic work by the French artist Maurice Denis. Produced in 1897, the print belongs to the series 'Amour', a collection of twelve lithographs that explore themes of intimacy, spirituality, and domestic life. Denis was a founding member of the Nabis, a group of artists who sought to move beyond the objective representation of nature in favour of subjective expression and decorative harmony. The composition features two figures in a quiet, contemplative exchange. The soft, ethereal quality of the work is achieved through the use of delicate colour layering and gentle, blurred contours. The figures appear almost translucent, their forms merging with the surrounding space to create a dreamlike atmosphere. By employing a muted palette of pale blues, soft yellows, and subtle ochres, Denis avoids harsh contrasts, allowing the viewer to focus on the emotional resonance of the scene. The vertical orientation and the simplified, flattened treatment of the background reflect the influence of Japanese woodblock prints, which were widely admired by the Nabis. Denis often infused his work with religious or mystical undertones, even when depicting everyday subjects. In this print, the title provides a framework for interpreting the interaction between the two figures, suggesting a moment of quiet revelation or shared devotion. The lack of specific environmental detail encourages a focus on the psychological state of the subjects. As a master of the lithographic medium, Denis utilised the texture of the stone to create a soft, painterly effect that distinguishes his graphic work from the more rigid techniques of his contemporaries. This print is an example of the Nabis' interest in the synthesis of personal emotion and decorative design, offering a glimpse into the quiet, interior world that defined much of Denis's artistic output during the late nineteenth century.