Past Exhibition

Marc Chagall's Early Prints and Drawings

This painting features a series of angular and curved lines that create an abstract representation of a village scene. In the left part of the painting, dark, triangular and rectangular shapes form what appear to be a collection of houses, one with a bright yellow roof, and an industrial area with chimneys in the background. The red and beige hues cover the majority of the painting with vibrant, swirling lines adding texture. Behind the buildings, a person appears to ride on horseback against a bright blue section. Closer to us are three people depicted with flat, abstract features. Near the bottom-left corner, a woman in a patterned dress with a dark headscarf appears to carry a tray or bowl. In the center, a person in pale gray clothing is walking to the left, holding an indistinct white object. Behind them, on the right, a person sits on a chair, wrapped in white clothing. Their chair appears to be held up by another person.
Marc Chagall, Purim, 1917, gouache, The John U. and Evelyn S. Nef Collection, 2011.60.10

Details

  • Dates

    -

  • Locations

    West Building, Ground Floor, Outer Tier
This painting features a series of angular and curved lines that create an abstract representation of a village scene. In the left part of the painting, dark, triangular and rectangular shapes form what appear to be a collection of houses, one with a bright yellow roof, and an industrial area with chimneys in the background. The red and beige hues cover the majority of the painting with vibrant, swirling lines adding texture. Behind the buildings, a person appears to ride on horseback against a bright blue section. Closer to us are three people depicted with flat, abstract features. Near the bottom-left corner, a woman in a patterned dress with a dark headscarf appears to carry a tray or bowl. In the center, a person in pale gray clothing is walking to the left, holding an indistinct white object. Behind them, on the right, a person sits on a chair, wrapped in white clothing. Their chair appears to be held up by another person.
Marc Chagall, Purim, 1917, gouache, The John U. and Evelyn S. Nef Collection, 2011.60.10

Overview: This exhibition, which focused on Chagall's graphic work from 1910 to 1930, included 47 prints, 4 drawings and watercolors, and 3 illustrated books from the Pinkus collection and other National Gallery collections. 3 series of etchings from the 1920s were included in the show: My Life (Mein Leben), Dead Souls, and La Fontaine's Fables.

Organization: Judith Brodie, assistant curator of old master drawings, organized the exhibition.

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