Title: Marc Chagall was born as Moishe Segal, in a small village in Belarus, then a state of the Russian Em
1Marc Chagall was born as Moishe Segal, in a small
village in Belarus, then a state of the Russian
Empire, in 1887. He was the oldest of nine
children in a close-knit Jewish family. His
father worked as a herring merchant, and although
poor, the family was a happy one.
2Living in such a small village gave Marc Chagall
lots of memories to draw frommemories of
religious events, such as the Sabbath lighting of
candles the village fiddler, who played the
violin at lifes most memorable occasions, hens
and cows. But other memories were not so happy
the memories of Russian pogroms against Jews.
Czar Alexander II had given Jews many
freedomsunlike most of Europe. But when a
terrorist bomb killed him in 1881, Russians
blamed Jews, and then terrorized them.
3Marc studied art in Russia, but moved away from
home in 1910. Influenced by other artists known
as Cubists, Marc used symbols throughout his
paintings, along with dreamy colors.
Paris Through the Window, 1913
4Before he left for Paris, he met his future wife,
Bella, in his home village in 1909. He felt she
was his soul mate, and Bella is often found in
his work. After living in Paris for a year, he
returned to the village to marry Bella in 1914.
Looking at The Birthday gives a completely new
twist to the idea of heads over heels in love!
The Birthday, 1915
5Besides the figure of Bella, other symbols often
seen in Chagalls work include other symbols.
Some include cows- the joy of
life treesanother symbol for life rooster-fertili
ty Fiddlera cross point of life (birth, death,
love) Flying fisha symbol for Chagall's
father Clock-time CandlesticksThe
Sabbath Windowsfreedom Small houseshis Russian
village Circus figures--joy Crucifixion of
Jesusthe Holocaust
The Circus Rider, c. 1927 Oil on canvas23.8 x
18.9 cm
6Looking at the list of symbols, you saw Chagall
used a symbol most often used by Christians the
crucifixion.
Chagalls optimistic outlook on life almost put
him in mortal danger when the Nazis overwhelmed
Europe. Narrowly escaping, his heart was broken
by mankinds cruelty.
7White Crucifixion, 1938 Oil on canvas154.3 x
139.7 cm
8This image is full of images and colors. This
work is your groups assigned piece for
critiquing.
Green Violinist, 192324. Oil on canvas, 78 x 42
3/4 inches
9Ida died in 1944, of a sudden illness. Chagall
mourned throughout his life, but did re-marry in
1952. He continued to work, receiving
commissions to create stained glass work, murals,
and woven work, as well as paintings. His work
is seen at several museums, including two named
for him, in France and in Russia. Chagall died
in 1985.