He was born in Vitebsk, Russia, and scenes of his native town are reflected in many of his pictures. He studied in St. Petersburg and moved to Paris in 1910, soon finding his place in what was then the art capital of the world.

The outbreak of World War I found him in Vitebsk where he painted a series of joyous pictures following his marriage. For a time he was drafted into military service. After the 1917 Revolution Chagall was appointed commissar of fine arts in Vitebsk and director of the Vitebsk Arts Academy.

Becoming disillusioned with the official attitude to art, he moved to Moscow and designed sets and costumes for the new State Jewish Theater. In 1925 he left for Berlin and then returned to Paris. A 1931 visit to Palestine inspired a series of biblical etchings. In World War II Chagall escaped to New York and in 1947 returned to France, living first in Paris and eventually made his home at Vence near Nice. He turned to new media and experiment including work in stained glass in many outstanding public buildings and tapestries.

Chagall is renowned as a particularly Jewish artist but the appeal of his colorful and often magical paintings is universal.

Bibliography:

Marc CHAGALL: Die Biblische Botschaft. Pp.199. Paris: F. Mourlot, 1972

Marc CHAGALL: Chagall Discovered. Pp. 326. New York: H.L. Levin, 1988

Marc CHAGALL: Chagall: L’Oeuvre grave. Pp.115. Paris: Bibliotheque Nationale, 1970

Marc CHAGALL: Marc Chagall. Le Ballet, L’Opera. Pp.180. Paris: Reunion des Musees Nationaux, 1995

Links:

Chagall Windows at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem