Marc Chagall, 1887-1985: Painting as Poetry

by Ingo F. Walther, Rainer Metzger

The painter as poet: A world of floating symbols

For Marc Chagall (1887 1985), painting was an intricate tapestry of dreams, tales, and traditions. His instantly recognizable visual language carved out a unique early 20th-century niche, often identified as one of the earliest expressions of psychic experience.

Chagall s canvases are characterized by loose brushwork, deep colors, a particular fondness for blue, and a repertoire of recurring tropes including musicians, roosters, rooftops, flowers, and floating lovers. For all their ethereal charms, his compositions were often rich and complex in their references. They wove together not only colors and forms, but also his Jewish roots with his present encounters in Paris, markers of faith with gestures of love and symbols of hope with testimonies of trauma.

Across scenes of birth, love, marriage, and death, this dependable artist introduction explores the many versions of Chagall s rich vocabulary. From visions of his native Vitebsk in modern-day Belarus to images of the Eiffel Tower, we explore the unique aesthetic of one of the most readily identifiable modern masters and one of the most influential Jewish artists of all time.

About the series:
Each book in TASCHEN s Basic Art series features:
a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance
a concise biography
approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions
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Genres: Art, Nonfiction

95 pages, Hardcover

First published September 12, 2016

About the author

Ingo F. Walther was born in Berlin in 1940 and studied medieval studies, literature, and art history in Frankfurt am Main and Munich. He has published numerous books on the art of the Middle Ages and of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Reviews

[garance foncé · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Das Wesentliche ist die Kunst, die Malerei, eine Malerei, die ganz anders ist, als alle Welt sie macht. Aber welche? Wird mir Gott oder sonst jemand die Kraft geben, dass ich den Bildern meinen Atem einhauchen kann, den Atem des Gebets und der Trauer, des Gebets um Erlösung und Wiedergeburt?“ - Marc Chagall

„Wenn Chagall malt, weiß man nicht, ob er schläft oder wach ist. Irgendwo in seinem Kopf muss er einen Engel haben.“ - Pablo Picasso

[Luciana Nery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I loved Chagall! Now, thanks to this book, I'm absolutely sure of it.

In fact, I appreciated so much from what I learned from this book - as always, Taschen delivers just the right amount of information to make you knowledgeable about an artist -, that now I seek a larger and more comprehensive book about Chagall. But this is only out of unbridled love, because this Taschen book did an excellent job to showcase his life and art, and should be enough for most art lovers.

[Zoe Halsne · Rating 4 out of 5]

would have given 5 stars but was surprised that there was no chapter about his time at the opera.

[Jennifer Sahlstrom · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting read. Chagall’s art is not at all to my taste but it can be appreciated nevertheless.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I now love Chagall and don't you think he looks like Bob Dylan?

[Sanemsrgz · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this, Chagall became one of my favorite painters.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best for the pictures as the translation of the original text is somewhat stilted.