Marc Chagall “I and the Village”

Marc Chagall  Many artists tell stories through their paintings and drawings.  Marc Chagall (pronounced sha gahl) painted stories that make people feel happy when they look at them.

Chagall was born in 1887 in Vitepsk. This is a small Russian—Jewish village. His family was very poor and worked very hard.

 Chagall started drawing after he saw a picture a classmate had drawn.  The more Chagall drew, the more he wanted to be an artist.  He begged his mother to take him to an artist’s studio. The artist said that Chagall had talent, so he taught him how to paint.

Fantastic Art  Marc Chagall is famous for his “Fantastic Art” style. “Fantastic Art” is similar to Surrealism because it has a dream-like quality.  It’s a mixture of Cubism and imagination influenced by childhood memories, folklore, and country life.  Can you find some Cubist elements in this work by Chagall?

Here’s some work by Marc Chagall:  Marc often puts pictures of himself and people he cared about in his paintings.

 Often the love he had for his wife was the subject of his art.

 Many times Marc would put the important pieces at the top of his paintings. Sometimes it looks like they can fly!

Sometimes his work looks like a collage.

I and the Village  This painting is probably one of the best examples of Marc Chagall’s style.  It’s a self portrait—can you tell me what you see in this painting?  What does it say about his life?

Review Question  Marc Chagall’s paintings often had a dreamlike quality. What is that style of art called?  What kinds of objects did you find in Marc Chagall’s paintings?  Who are important people you would put in your own version of I and the Village?