Marc Chagall

Marc Chagall, born 1887, was a French artist who is regarded as one of the most influential modernist artists of the early twentieth century. Chagall was raised in a Jewish household and his religious roots presented themselves as an influence on his work. From 1908-1910, Chagall studied under Léon Bakst at the Zvantseva School of Drawing in St. Petersburg, Russia. This is where he was introduced to many world renowned artists, which Chagall studied intensely. In 1910, he moved to Paris where he was really able to break onto the art scene. He was one of the essential parts of the École de Paris. After many successful exhibitions in France, Chagall returned back to Russia to visit his family, where he was then forced to stay because of the events of World War I. During this time, Chagall’s work reflected themes of war, death and religion. In 1923, he was able to return to Paris where his reputation continues to grow globally. Due to the events of World War II, as a high profile Jew, Chagall and his wife were forced to flee to New York City. While he did continue his artistic journey in New York, America never felt like a permanent home for Chagall. The fact that he did not speak English, the news of the war and what was happening to the Jewish people back home and the death of his wife in 1944 were all contributing factors to his return to France in 1947.

Chagall was a successful artist in many different mediums, a painter, an illustrator, a stained glass artist, a ceramicist, a set designer and a tapestry maker. He took elements of many different modern art movements to create his own unique interpretations of his Jewish heritage, nostalgia and injustices. 

A list of exhibitions and permanent displays include: 

-'Palais Garnier' (the Opera de Paris), Art Institute of Chicago, Chase Tower Plaza of downtown Chicago, Metropolitan Opera, Metz Cathedral, Notre-Dame de Reims, Fraumünster abbey in Zürich, Switzerland, Church of St. Stephan in Mainz, Germany and the Musée Marc Chagall Nice, France, which Chagall helped to design.

-All Saints Church in Kent, England; The only church in the world with a complete set of Chagall window-glass.

-The Union Church of Pocantico Hills; a set of Chagall windows commemorating the prophets, 

-Lincoln Center, New York City, Chagall's murals; The Sources of Music and The Triumph of Music are installed in the lobby of the new Metropolitan Opera House.

-The Museum of Biblical Art, Dallas, Texas

-The Marc Chagall Yufuin Kinrin-ko Museum in Yufuin, Kyushu, Japan

-Marc Chagall's late painting titled Job for the Job Tapestry in Chicago.