Marc Chagall Response
Paris Through the Window, 1913
Oil on canvas, 53.5” X 54 ¾”
Marc Chagall
• Marc Chagall was born in a small town in Russia. He
studied art in St. Petersburg and then in Paris. From
1919 to 1922, Chagall was the art director of the
Moscow Jewish State Theatre. He painted murals in
the theater lobby and created sets for the shows.
• Chagall was one of the first artists to paint pictures that
looked like dreams. He is sometimes called an early
Surrealist because of his dreamlike style and the
element of fantasy in his work. His work also shows
the strong influence of his home and Jewish heritage.
Childhood memories and religious images are often
found in his work. Chagall’s artwork’s combine
memories with folklore and fantasy.
Describe: What do you see?
• List the objects that you
see in the painting.
Where are they located?
Do they seem close to the
viewer or in the distance?
• Is this a nonobjective
work, or do the shapes in
this work represent
objects?
• Describe the types of
elements that dominate,
ie. Types of lines and
shapes..colours
Analyze: How is this work organized?
• Are the colours in this work
bright or dull? How does this
affect the piece’s balance?
• Does it look realistic or like a
dream scene with real objects
in unusual places?
• How is repetition used to
create unity? Explain.
• Describe contrasts that you
see?
• What is emphasized to catch
your eye first (focal point)?
• What leads your eye through
the piece and where?
Interpret: What is the artist trying to communicate?
• Why do you think the
head has two faces?
• Why does the cat have
a human face, do you
think? What do you
think it represents?
• What tells you, besides
the title, that this takes
place in Paris?
• What do you think the
artist is trying to get the
viewer to feel?
Judge: Is the piece successful?
• What do you think of the
work?Did it make you
think? Explain. Is this
piece worth considering
and why.
• Is it successful in
realistically showing
subject matter?
• Is it put together well?
Explain.
• Does it express a message
clearly?