MARC CHAGALL 1887-1985
Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was an internationally acclaimed painter, sculptor, and poet, presented by HELENE BAILLY gallery, whose unique work blends surrealism, cubism, and folk traditions. His dreamlike style, influenced by Jewish, Russian, and modernist elements, makes him one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century.
Born in 1887 in Vitebsk, Belarus, Marc Chagall was an artist who first studied at the Saint Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts under the mentorship of Léon Bakst, who introduced him to the works of Cézanne, Van Gogh, and Gauguin. In 1910, he moved to Paris, where he gradually incorporated Cubist and Fauvist influences into his work. His distinctive artistic language, defined by an ethereal combination of symbolic motifs and elements of Russian folklore, fully emerged after his return to Russia.
In 1919, he founded an art school in Vitebsk, serving as its director. That same year, he was commissioned to decorate the Jewish Theater in Moscow. However, in 1922, he left Russia permanently, returning to France via Berlin, where he created his first etchings to illustrate his autobiography, Ma Vie.
By 1923 in Paris, he met the art dealer Ambroise Vollard, who entrusted him with illustrating Gogol’s Dead Souls. Between 1930 and 1939, he completed 100 etchings for The Fables of La Fontaine and later embarked on a monumental project to illustrate the Bible, producing 105 engravings. During this period, his extensive travels to Palestine, Egypt, England, the Netherlands, and Spain enriched his palette and iconography.
In 1941, fleeing the war, Marc Chagall was an artist who went into exile in the United States, where he remained for six years. During this time, he designed stage sets for the ballets Aleko (Tchaikovsky) and The Firebird (Stravinsky). His work was honored with a major retrospective at the MoMA in 1946, cementing his place in modern art.
Returning to France in 1950, he settled in Vence, where he received several prestigious commissions. He created stained glass windows for renowned institutions, including Metz Cathedral (1958), Hadassah Synagogue in Jerusalem (1960), The United Nations Headquarters in New York (1964).
In 1964, he was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the Paris Opera, a monumental achievement that marked his official recognition in France. Later, he created murals for the Metropolitan Opera in New York (1967), further solidifying his international influence.
Beyond painting and illustration, Marc Chagall was an artist who explored ceramics and sculpture, disciplines he began in 1950. His eclectic and poetic body of work spanned the major artistic movements of the 20th century, while remaining deeply personal and lyrical. He passed away in 1985, leaving behind an immeasurable artistic legacy.
