Chagall. A Cry for Freedom

The Mapfre Foundation is hosting an exhibition from 2 February to 5 May, focusing on the work of the Belarusian painter Marc Chagall (1887-1985). A versatile artist of Jewish origin from the early 20th century, his work straddles surrealism, Russian expressionism, and cubism.

This exhibition, a collaboration between La Piscine – Musée d’Art et d’Industrie André Diligent (Roubaix), Fundación MAPFRE, and the Musée national Marc Chagall in Nice, offers a fresh perspective on the artist's works through the lens of the historical events he witnessed. It provides a comprehensive exploration of his creations, considering his stances and socio-political commitments.

Chagall's life unfolded amidst the backdrop of two world wars and periods of exile, events that profoundly influenced his artistic expression. His art reflects themes of displacement and migration, mirroring his own journey from his childhood in Belarus to France, and his years spent in Germany, Palestine, Russian the United States.

Image Credits:

• Marc Chagall, Le Marchand de bestiaux [The Cattle Dealer], c. 1922-1923 © Marc Chagall / VEGAP, Madrid, 2023 © Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Philippe Migeat
• Marc Chagall Final Sketch for La Paix [The Peace], stained glass window at the UN, New York, 1963 Gouache, watercolour, ink, and black pencil on paper 69.2 × 107 cm Private collection © Marc Chagall / VEGAP, Madrid, 2024 © Archives Marc et Ida Chagall, Paris
• Marc Chagall Study for La Chute de l’ange [The Fall of the Angel], 1934 Oil on cardboard 37.5 × 48.5 cm Private collection © Marc Chagall / VEGAP, Madrid, 2024 © Archives Marc et Ida Chagall, Paris
• Marc Chagall Commedia dell’arte, 1959 Mixed media on canvas 255 × 400 cm Adolf und Luisa Haeuser-Stiftung für Kunst- und Kulturpflege, Hattersheim am Main (Germany) © Marc Chagall / VEGAP, Madrid, 2024
• Marc Chagall Solitude [Solitude], 1933 Oil on canvas 102 × 169 cm Museum of Art, Tel Aviv. Donated by the artist, 1953 © Marc Chagall / VEGAP, Madrid, 2024 © Avraham Hai
• Marc Chagall La Bête fantastique / L’Âne / Cheval fantastique [The Fantastic Beast / The Donkey / Fantastic Horse], 1967 Bronze 52 × 80 × 29 cm Private collection © Marc Chagall / VEGAP, Madrid, 2024 © Fabrice Gousse