In “The appearance of the artist's family”, Chagall depicts himself in front of his easel in a purple outfit, his father standing behind him, Torah in hand. An angel appears in the red sky, and in front of him a bride, probably Bella, the artist's wife, seems to emerge from outside the painting, holding a bouquet, while a red cow with large, tender eyes pokes out its smiling snout!
This painting, teeming with detail, is a fine example of Marc Chagall's fantastical world and vocabulary, which recounts his life and childhood memories. The artist demonstrates his love for his family, as well as his attachment to the Jewish religion and his native Russia.
In Chagall's world, colour is poetic and illogical. Colours combine in astonishing harmonies; here, the vivid red of the upper part of the painting contrasts perfectly with the delicate blue, laid down like a transparent film. This floating world, with its intense magical power, intrigues and attracts the viewer, confirming Chagall as a painter-storyteller of enchanting power.
Detail: Chagall's native village in Russia, Vitebsk, is depicted repeatedly in many of the artist's paintings. This ghost town, destroyed by the war, now exists only in the painter's nostalgic memories.
In “The appearance of the artist's family”, Chagall depicts himself in front of his easel in a purple outfit, his father standing behind him, Torah in hand. An angel appears in the red sky, and in front of him a bride, probably Bella, the artist's wife, seems to emerge from outside the painting, holding a bouquet, while a red cow with large, tender eyes pokes out its smiling snout!
This painting, teeming with detail, is a fine example of Marc Chagall's fantastical world and vocabulary, which recounts his life and childhood memories. The artist demonstrates his love for his family, as well as his attachment to the Jewish religion and his native Russia.
In Chagall's world, colour is poetic and illogical. Colours combine in astonishing harmonies; here, the vivid red of the upper part of the painting contrasts perfectly with the delicate blue, laid down like a transparent film. This floating world, with its intense magical power, intrigues and attracts the viewer, confirming Chagall as a painter-storyteller of enchanting power.
Detail: Chagall's native village in Russia, Vitebsk, is depicted repeatedly in many of the artist's paintings. This ghost town, destroyed by the war, now exists only in the painter's nostalgic memories.
