Marc Chagall (1887-1985), Bible Verve, 1956

Marc Chagall (1887 Peskowatik - 1985 Saint-Paul-de-Vence), Bible Verve, 1956. Color lithograph from Verve ‘Bilder zur Bibel’, Editions de la Revue Verve, No. 33-34, Teriade Paris, 1956. Mourlot Lithograph I, No. 118, 35.5 cm x 26.5 cm.
- slightly bumped, remains of original mounting on verso  



- Eternal Struggle -


Instead of Moses holding the tablets of the law aloft, an angel presents them. However, the angel appears to be wrestling with the tablets, suggesting that humans struggle to uphold divine laws. Through this wrestling motif, Chagall also refers to Jacob's battle with an angel of God, which lasts until dawn and ultimately blesses Jacob. The black lines that stand out against the energetic yellow background further emphasize the powerful nature of the depiction.    




About the artist


Marc Chagall is considered the "painter-poet" of modernism. Born into a Jewish family in Vitebsk, he received his first artistic training at the private Swansewa art school in St. Petersburg. From 1910 on, Chagall lived in Paris, where he was exposed to contemporary art movements such as Fauvism and Cubism. There, he collaborated with other artists, including Picasso. Chagall developed his own style, often described as surrealist, expressionist, and romantic. After visiting Russia in 1914, the First World War prevented Chagall from returning to Paris. In the following years, he participated in exhibitions in Moscow and became known as a leader of the Russian avant-garde. Chagall returned to Paris in 1923 and became an internationally sought-after artist. During World War II, he emigrated to New York City with his wife, Bella. The Museum of Modern Art organized a retrospective of his work. After World War II, Chagall returned to France and lived in Saint-Paul-de-Vence until his death. He created numerous paintings, prints, illustrations, and stained glass windows, including the famous window in the Hadassah synagogue in Jerusalem.