Marc Chagall Biography and Life
The art of Marc Chagall is often difficult to classify within a specific artistic movement. His artwork balances between influences such as fauvism, cubism and surrealism, though as an artist, he subscribed to none of them. Born a Russian Jew and surviving both World Wars and the sudden and unexpected death of his beloved wife, the biography of Marc Chagall is nothing less than a tale of escape, trials and perseverance. Though he explored a few different styles, the art of Marc Chagall is uniquely his. Chagall's strong Jewish identity and impoverished upbringing highly influenced the common themes, ideas, imagery and the very fashion of his art. Chagall's use of bright colors and imaginative images coupled with his distinct style of representation make Marc Chagall's artwork some of the most famous and enjoyable art of the twentieth century.
Chagall was a Modern Artist in its truest form and though usually classified as a French painter (obtaining French citizenship in 1937), Chagall was born in what is now Belarus, Russia on July 7, 1887. He was the oldest of nine children. His father, Khatskl Shagal was a fish merchant who, with his wife Feige-Ite, led the close-knit Jewish family through humble beginnings. Chagall began studying art in 1906 and in 1907, he moved to St. Petersburg, Russia, where he attended the school of the Society of Art Supporters. Chagall travelled frequently between his hometown of Belarus and St. Petersburg and it was on one of these trips back home that, in 1909, he met who would ultimately become his wife and the inspiration of many of his paintings, Bella Rosenfeld. Requiring them to obtain permits to live within the city, the cultural climate of St. Petersburg proved difficult for its Jewish citizens. Chagall, though jailed once, resided there until 1910 when he moved to Paris.
Although he stayed in Paris for only four years, Chagall became well acquainted with some of the most influential artists and intellectuals of the time, including Guillaume Apollinair and Robert Delaunay. In 1914, Chagall moved back to Belarus, placing him in Russia at the outbreak of World War I. One year later, in 1915, he married Bella. The Soviet Ministry of Culture made him a Commissar of Art for the region surrounding his hometown. Chagall found the political climate under the Soviet system difficult and was an active participant in the Russian Revolution of 1917. In 1920, Chagall, Bella and their daughter Ida, born in 1916, moved to Moscow where they stayed for three years until they moved once again to Paris in 1923. In 1937, Chagall obtained French citizenship but with the outburst of World War II and the Nazi invasion of France and the exile of Jews and the Holocaust, the Chagalls fled Europe through Spain and Portugal to America, where they settled in 1941. Despite the death of his wife Bella on September 2, 1944, Chagall stayed in America until 1946, at which time he returned to Europe. By 1949, Chagall was once again working in France.
Chagall remarried in 1952 to Valentina Brodsky with whom he would spend the remainder of his life. He spent the latter years of his life in relative peace and enjoyment, creating several works of art and taking up new forms including sculpture and stained glass. In 1960, Chagall was privileged to create stained glass windows for the synagogue of the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem. Chagall's use of vibrant colors was prominent throughout this period. On March 28, 1985, at the age of 97, Marc Chagall died.
The art prints of Marc Chagall provide an amazing representation of the artwork of one the most influential modern artists. His style tends to both encompass and avoid many set artistic movements. His subject matter varies between a fusion of fantasy, religion, and reminiscence. Some of Marc Chagall's most famous artwork includes the Circus, Bouquet with Village, and I and the Village. His artwork is featured in many places around the world including a large stain glassed mural at the UN in New York.
I and the Village, one of Chagall's most famous and well known paintings contains bright colored, dream-like images of what appear to be reminiscent of his hometown. The surrealist nature of this picture allows for broad interpretation. The foreground images include a green faced man staring in the eyes of a goat. The sub images include a village with people who are fulfilling tasks common to a farming community. There is a woman milking a cow, a man with a scythe and woman playing the violin. Some of the more interesting imagery involved is the inclusion of the Orthodox Church in the village, and a cross necklace, worn by the man with a green face. Framed artwork by Marc Chagall adds intrigue wherever displayed.
Chagall was a Modern Artist in its truest form and though usually classified as a French painter (obtaining French citizenship in 1937), Chagall was born in what is now Belarus, Russia on July 7, 1887. He was the oldest of nine children. His father, Khatskl Shagal was a fish merchant who, with his wife Feige-Ite, led the close-knit Jewish family through humble beginnings. Chagall began studying art in 1906 and in 1907, he moved to St. Petersburg, Russia, where he attended the school of the Society of Art Supporters. Chagall travelled frequently between his hometown of Belarus and St. Petersburg and it was on one of these trips back home that, in 1909, he met who would ultimately become his wife and the inspiration of many of his paintings, Bella Rosenfeld. Requiring them to obtain permits to live within the city, the cultural climate of St. Petersburg proved difficult for its Jewish citizens. Chagall, though jailed once, resided there until 1910 when he moved to Paris.
Although he stayed in Paris for only four years, Chagall became well acquainted with some of the most influential artists and intellectuals of the time, including Guillaume Apollinair and Robert Delaunay. In 1914, Chagall moved back to Belarus, placing him in Russia at the outbreak of World War I. One year later, in 1915, he married Bella. The Soviet Ministry of Culture made him a Commissar of Art for the region surrounding his hometown. Chagall found the political climate under the Soviet system difficult and was an active participant in the Russian Revolution of 1917. In 1920, Chagall, Bella and their daughter Ida, born in 1916, moved to Moscow where they stayed for three years until they moved once again to Paris in 1923. In 1937, Chagall obtained French citizenship but with the outburst of World War II and the Nazi invasion of France and the exile of Jews and the Holocaust, the Chagalls fled Europe through Spain and Portugal to America, where they settled in 1941. Despite the death of his wife Bella on September 2, 1944, Chagall stayed in America until 1946, at which time he returned to Europe. By 1949, Chagall was once again working in France.
Chagall remarried in 1952 to Valentina Brodsky with whom he would spend the remainder of his life. He spent the latter years of his life in relative peace and enjoyment, creating several works of art and taking up new forms including sculpture and stained glass. In 1960, Chagall was privileged to create stained glass windows for the synagogue of the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem. Chagall's use of vibrant colors was prominent throughout this period. On March 28, 1985, at the age of 97, Marc Chagall died.
The art prints of Marc Chagall provide an amazing representation of the artwork of one the most influential modern artists. His style tends to both encompass and avoid many set artistic movements. His subject matter varies between a fusion of fantasy, religion, and reminiscence. Some of Marc Chagall's most famous artwork includes the Circus, Bouquet with Village, and I and the Village. His artwork is featured in many places around the world including a large stain glassed mural at the UN in New York.
I and the Village, one of Chagall's most famous and well known paintings contains bright colored, dream-like images of what appear to be reminiscent of his hometown. The surrealist nature of this picture allows for broad interpretation. The foreground images include a green faced man staring in the eyes of a goat. The sub images include a village with people who are fulfilling tasks common to a farming community. There is a woman milking a cow, a man with a scythe and woman playing the violin. Some of the more interesting imagery involved is the inclusion of the Orthodox Church in the village, and a cross necklace, worn by the man with a green face. Framed artwork by Marc Chagall adds intrigue wherever displayed.
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