2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25
In 1887, on July 7, the future world-class artist Chagall Marc was born, whose paintings throughout the 20th century caused numbness and delight among visitors to numerous vernissages, which exhibited the paintings of the famous avant-garde artist.
The beginning of the creative path
Moishe's childhood, as his parents originally called him, passed in the city of Vitebsk. The boy's father worked as a loader at the fish market, his mother kept a small shop, and his grandfather was a cantor in the Jewish synagogue. After graduating from a religious Jewish school, Moishe entered a gymnasium, although in Tsarist Russia Jews were not allowed to attend Russian educational institutions. Of course, it was difficult to study in an illegal position. After studying for several years, he left the gymnasium and became a volunteer at the "School of drawing and painting of the artist Peng." Two months later, Mr. Peng, amazed by the young man's talent, offered him free education at his school.
The young artist repainted all his relatives in turn, then began to paint portraits of the inhabitants of Vitebsk. So in the worldart, a bright original painter Chagall Marc appeared, whose paintings will soon be bought by the best museums in the world. A pseudonym, or rather a new name, he came up with himself. Moishe became Mark, and Chagall is a modified Segal, from his father's surname.
Northern Capital
Twenty-year-old Mark decided not to sit still and soon went to St. Petersburg, hoping to continue his painting studies there. He had no money, besides, the discriminatory policy of the Russian state towards the Jews made itself felt. I had to live in the northern capital on the verge of poverty, surviving by odd jobs. However, Chagall did not lose heart, he was happy to be in the maelstrom of the artistic life of St. Petersburg. Gradually, he formed a circle of useful acquaintances among the Jewish beau monde, and new friends began to help the young artist.
Chagall Marc, whose paintings immediately began to be regarded as heralds of a new surrealist style, tried to develop his individuality and did not follow the generally accepted canons of painting. And, as later life showed, he chose the right path. In the early works of the artist, the fantastic fabulousness of the plot and the metaphorical nature of the images were already traced. Everything that Marc Chagall wrote at that time, paintings with titles: "The Holy Family", "Death", "Birth", are vivid examples of an unusual style. At the same time, the last theme, the birth of a baby, was reflected in the work of Chagall several times, in different interpretations. However, in all cases, the motherdepicted in a small drawing, which was inferior in size to other characters, men, goats, horses, who were around. However, this is the phenomenon of Marc Chagall's creativity, he knew how to arrange microscopic details in such a way that they suddenly began to dominate the general background. A tired woman in labor and a midwife with a newborn in her arms became the center of the picture with some incomprehensible obyuraz.
Introducing Lev Bakst
While in St. Petersburg, Chagall Marc, whose paintings attracted increasing attention from the secular public, continued his studies at the private Seidenberg School of Art, while doing simple work in the Jewish magazine Voskhod to provide himself with food. Later he met with Lev Bakst, a teacher at the Zvantseva school, who played a decisive role in the fate of the artist. Chagall also attended lectures by the painter Mstislav Dobuzhinsky, who attracted him as a champion of everything new in art.
In the spring of 1910, Marc Chagall made his debut - his paintings participated in the opening day, which was arranged by the editors of the Apollo magazine. And shortly before this event, the artist met the woman of his life, Bella Rosenfeld. Love between them broke out instantly, and a happy time continued for both from the day when the young people got married and began to live together. In 1916, the couple had a daughter, who was named Ida.
Move to Paris
In the summer of 1910, deputy Maxim Vinaver, a patron of the arts and a great admirer of the fine arts, proposedChagall a scholarship that gave him the opportunity to study in Paris. The capital of France greeted Mark warmly, he became close to the artist Ehrenburg and, with his assistance, rented a studio in Montparnasse. Chagall paints at night, and during the day disappears in galleries, salons and exhibitions, absorbing everything connected with the great art of painting.
Masters of the early 20th century became an example for a young artist. The great Cezanne, Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Delacroix - from each of them, the enthusiastic Chagall tries to learn something for himself. His mentor in St. Petersburg, Lev Bakst, once viewing the Parisian drawings of his student, confidently stated that "now all colors sing." The paintings by Marc Chagall, the photos of which are presented on the page, fully confirm the opinion of the teacher.
Creative Haven
Soon, Chagall moved to the "Beehive", a kind of Parisian art center, which has become a haven for poor visiting artists. Here Mark meets poets, writers, painters and other representatives of the bohemia of the French capital. All those works that Marc Chagall wrote in the "Hive" (paintings with names: "Violinist", "Calvary", "Dedication to my bride", "View of Paris from the window") became his "calling card". However, despite complete assimilation with the Parisian creative environment, the artist does not forget about his native Vitebsk and paints pictures: "Cattle Seller", "Me and the Village", "Snuff to Snuff".
Early creativity
One ofthe most memorable painting is "Window. Vitebsk", written in the style of "naive art" or "primitivism", which was followed in the early period of his work by Marc Chagall. "Window. Vitebsk" was created in 1908, when the artist was just beginning to master the wisdom of the "primitive style".
During the few years spent in Paris, Marc Chagall painted about thirty paintings and more than 150 watercolors. He took all the works to Berlin for an art exhibition in 1914, which became his main benefit in the art world. The audience was delighted with the paintings of Chagall. From Berlin, the artist was going to go to his native Vitebsk to see Bella, but the outbreak of the First World War prevented.
The further fate of the artist
Marc Zakharovich Chagall, whose paintings have already become widely known, was released from military conscription. Acquaintances helped to get a place in the Military-Industrial Department of St. Petersburg, and for some time the artist was provided with housing and work. Chagall's paintings in this turbulent time were especially action-packed and realistic. "War", "Window in the Village", "Feast of Tabernacles", "Red Jew" - these are just a few of those canvases that were created during the war years. Separately, the artist created a lyrical series of paintings: "Walk", "Pink Lovers", "Birthday", "Bella in a White Collar". These canvases represent only a small part of an extensive series of his works of the First World War period.war.
Walk
One of the most famous works of the artist, created by him in 1918. Post-revolutionary moods, faith in a happy future, the romance of young love - all this is reflected on the canvas. Disappointment in the new social values of the country of the Soviets had not yet set in, although it was not far off. Nevertheless, one of the most faithful followers of the new ideals of that time was the artist Marc Chagall. "Walk" is an optimistic picture, full of bright hopes, the characters do not think about the negative. The woman depicted on the canvas soars above reality, the young man is also ready to take off from the ground.
Chagall 1917-1918
The artist was inspired by the revolutionary events that took place in Petrograd. He, like many representatives of the intelligentsia of the Northern capital, felt the fresh wind of change and believed in their infallibility. St. Petersburg artists, writers, composers undertook to promote a new way of life, and one of the first in the ranks of enthusiasts who stood up for the equality of all people was Marc Chagall. The paintings "Above the City", "War to the Palaces - Peace to the Huts" and many other canvases of that period reflect the artist's desire for creation.
Bella and a bouquet of flowers
A special place in the artist's work is occupied by a painting dedicated to his beloved wife, who once brought him a bouquet of flowers to wish him a happy birthday. Without wasting a second, he rushed to the easel. Touched to the depths of his soul, the artist tried to capturebeautiful moments on canvas. This was the whole Marc Chagall. "Birthday" - a picture created in a matter of minutes in the form of a sketch, and then finalized. She became one of the best in the collection of the artist. As he himself stated, inspiration comes for a few minutes, it is important not to miss it.
Responsible position
In 1918, Mark Zakharovich Chagall, whose paintings were already considered the property of the Vitebsk province, became the commissioner for the arts of the local executive committee. The artist showed outstanding organizational skills, he decorated Vitebsk on the anniversary of the October Revolution with various banners, flags and banners. "Art to the masses!" - that was his slogan.
In 1920, Marc Chagall moved to Moscow with Bella and little Ida, where he began working in the theater community. In the process of creating scenery for performances, Chagall radically reconsiders his creative methods, trying to get closer to the "revolutionary" new style in painting. The party organs made several attempts to win the artist over to their side, but since Chagall was already a recognized world-class brush master, these attempts were not successful.
Confrontation
The tension that arose between the freedom-loving artist and the communist leadership soon turned into an open confrontation, and Marc Chagall left the country of the Soviets with his family.
Berlin became the first European city where Mark settled,Bella and little Ida. The artist's attempts to get money for the exhibition in 1914 ended in nothing, most of the paintings were gone. Only three canvases and a dozen watercolors were returned to Chagall.
In the summer of 1923, Mark receives a letter from his old friend in Paris, who invites him to come to the French capital. Chagall is on his way, and there another disappointment awaits him - the paintings that he once left in the "Hive" are also gone. However, the artist does not lose heart, he begins to paint his masterpieces again. In addition, Marc Chagall receives an offer from a major publishing house to illustrate books. He begins work with Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol's "Dead Souls" and does an excellent job.
Family trips
Chagall's financial position has become stronger, and he and his family begin to travel to European countries. And in between voyages, the artist paints his immortal canvases, which are becoming lighter and lighter: "Double Portrait", "Ida at the Window", "Rural Life". In addition to paintings, Chagall is illustrating the edition of La Fontaine's Fables.
In 1931, Marc Chagall visits Palestine, he wants to feel the land of his ancestors. The few months that the artist spent in the Holy Land made him change his attitude to life. Bella and daughter Ida, who were nearby, favored this. Back in Paris, Chagall only works on biblical illustrations.
Moving to America
Bin the late thirties, fleeing the German Nazis, the Chagall family emigrated to the United States. And again - work with theatrical scenery, this time in the Russian Ballet. Igor Stravinsky then rejected Chagall's work and preferred Picasso's sketches, but Mark's theatrical costumes were accepted.
The war in Europe is in full swing, although it is already clear that the Third Reich is defeated. In the summer of 1944, the good news comes - Hitler is on the verge of capitulation. And at the end of August, Marc Chagall is overtaken by trouble, Bell suddenly dies of sepsis in the hospital. The artist loses the meaning of life from grief, but his daughter Ida supports him and helps him survive. Only nine months later, Chagall picks up brushes. Now he finds salvation in work, paints pictures day and night. The creative impulses of the artist helped him survive the acuteness of the loss.
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