Mark Zakharovich Chagall, born in the Russian Empire in 1887, became famous as an artist of early modernism. Critics called Chagall "the last survivor of the first generation of European modernists." The artist drew inspiration from travel. During his life, he visited France, America, Germany and Russia. This way of life inspired Chagall, helping him to develop a special style of painting. Thanks to this style, Picasso considered him the last artist who understood what color was.
The best paintings by Chagall brought him worldwide fame. Now they are in the most famous museums in the world and private collections.
"Me and the Village", 1911
Memories of childhood in this picture are presented in the form of a jigsaw puzzle. Images of objects, people and animals are divided into separate fragments, mixed, superimposed on each other and collected in random order. This style of painting is typical for the works of Cubism. Vivid colors create contrast in reds, greens and blues. The painting shows several perspectives and focal points. The symbolism of the work is reflected in a pectoral cross on a person's chest, hinting that this character is a Christian. The three circles are the orbits of the Earth, Sun and Moon. The canvas shows the relationship between humans, flora and fauna. The significance of the painting for world culture lies in the combination of elements of Eastern European folklore, semiotic symbols (for example, the Tree of Life) and a whimsical style that was considered revolutionary in the era of Chagall. The painting is currently in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, USA.
Portrait of Love
The painting "Birthday" was painted by Chagall in 1915. The canvas depicts the artist himself and his beloved Bella. The piece was created a few weeks before their wedding. This bright and amazing creation captures and conveys a feeling of love euphoria.
Lovers float in the air in a whirlwind of grace, rushing to the window. From every square centimeter of the canvas, a stream of happiness pours out onto the viewer. This is one of the artist's favorite subjects - he and his wife Bella, floating in the air. The work is in the New York Museum of Modern Art.
The Violinist, 1913
The artist painted this picture while in France. In oil painting, executed in the style of quasi-cubism, the key moments of human life are symbolically displayed: birth, wedding, death. The violinist depicted in the painting is an ordinary musician and symbolic figure, whose music accompanies the turning points of a person's destiny. The painting is in the Stedelek Museum in Amsterdam, Holland.
"The Bride", 1950
The painting, which is now in a private collection in Japan, is a metaphor for the world that surrounded the artist and his beliefs. In it, the imaginary world and reality merged together. Against a dark blue background, the bride dressed in red symbolizes sensuality and joy. The couple seems to float on the surface of a dark river.
"Above the City", 1918
Another colorful illustration of Marc Chagall's love life is captured in his favorite plot. The couple flying across the sky is the Chagalls, and the picture itself sings love in marriage. The artist and his wife are flying over Vitebsk, the city of his childhood. The work is in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
"White Crucifixion", 1938
The painting depicts the suffering of Christ and the entire Jewish people. Bloody conflicts are shown with the help of synagogues burning in a fire. The original is at the Art Institute in Chicago.
