15 of the Most Famous Paintings and Artworks by Marc Chagall

Referred to as the “the quintessential Jewish artist of the twentieth century”, Marc Chagall claims distinction by dint of his figurative style – incorporation of a dreamlike imagery, made poignant with a riot of brilliant colors. Chagall explored varied media such as sets of ballets and plays, stained glass windows, and etchings on the Bible and is considered one of the most favored modern artists.

Biography of Marc Chagall in a Nutshell

Original Name	Moishe Segal
Birth	7 July 1887, Liozna, Belarus
Nationality	Russian-French artist of Belarusian Jewish origin
Death	28 March 1985, Saint Paul de Vence, France
Mentor	His first wife Bella Rosenfed
Inspiration	Home town and the Christian Bible
Period	Naïve art, Surrealism, Cubism, Expressionism, Modern art, Modernism, Symbolism, Fauvism

Best Chagall Paintings and Artworks

1. Circus Horse

Marc Chagall Circus Paintings

Completed in: 1964

Style: Figurative

Brilliant in dazzling colors and vibrant tones, this painting is regarded one of the artist’s finest works on a subject he much liked during his lifetime – circus. The hectic atmosphere created through the activity of the figures such as the woman riding a colored horse, the wandering minstrel, or the man holding the ring, makes the spectator almost feel the exuberant energy and become a part of the festive mood.

2. The Falling Angel

Chagall Angel Paintings

Original title: La chute de l’angle

Completed in: 1947

Style: Surrealism

Measurements: 148 x 189 cm

Location: Private collection

Medium: Oil on canvas

Chagall took almost 25 years to complete this work. Naturally, it includes the artist’s different observations according to his varied experiences. It starts with the incorporation of the Jewish and angelic figures as motifs of his Jewish vision and goes on to the Christian images of Christ on the Cross, and Madona, emphasizing Christian redemption.

3. The Wedding

Chagall Wedding Painting

Completed in: 1944

Style: Naïve Art (Primitivism)

Measurements: 99 x 74 cm

Location: Private collection

Medium: Oil on canvas

The most fascinating feature of this work, revolving around the wedding of Chagall’s brother in law, constitutes the equal focus enjoyed by both the musicians and the couple. As usual, sparkling hues mark the gaiety of the occasion, magnificently camouflaging the fact that it was created shortly after the demise of his wife, Bella Rosenfield.

4. The Birthday

Marc Chagall The Birthday

Completed in: 1915

Style: Naïve art

Measurements: 81 cm x 99.7 cm

Medium: Oil on canvas

Chagall and his wife loved each other dearly and this painting, made a few weeks before his wedding celebrates the wonderful emotion in entirety. Chagall is seen floating with his head craned unrealistically so as to kiss his future wife, who, holding a bouquet of flowers is also suspended in air.  The couple radiating heavenly bliss seem to outdo all the mundaneness suggested by the ivory, beige and tan hues of their living room furniture.

5. The Dream

Chagall Dream Paintings

Completed in: 1939

Style: Figurative

Despite being made at a time when there was a lot of turmoil in Europe, this piece, containing charming figures, such as the swooping angel, and the lovers, reflects optimism and joy. Confining his shades to just blues and greens, the painter aims to drag the viewer into the myriad depths of his composition, thereby upholding his artistic maturity.

6. The Fiddler

Chagall Painting

Completed in: 1913

Style: Cubism

Measurements: 188 x 158 cm

Location: Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Medium: Oil on canvas

The fiddler here, representing the Hasidic Jews who employed music and dance to unite a community in Chagall’s childhood village Vitebsk, highlights the way the painter imbibed both Christian and Jewish elements. The painting done in vivid colors was also an inspiration for the eminent musical of 1964, “Fiddler on the Roof”.

7. Paris through the Window

Chagall Paris through the Window

Original title: Paris par la fenetre

Completed in: 1913

Style: Cubism

Measurements: 135.8 x 141.4 cm

Location: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York City, NY, US

Medium: Oil on canvas

A two-faced man is seen looking at a visually appealing scene of Paris through his window. It is a deliberate juxtaposition of real and imaginary that Chagall incorporated to point out his fondness for modern Paris as well as a longing for his past life in Russia.

8. White Crucifixion

Marc Chagall Painting

Completed in: 1938

Style: Surrealism, Naïve art

Measurements: 155 x 140 cm

Location: Art Institute of Chicago

Medium: Oil on canvas

The crucifixion of Jesus is shown in this Biblical painting alongside the suffering of the Jews. Violent acts such as the burning of a synagogue occupy the background, while Jesus wearing a shawl is portrayed at the center, thereby uniting his torment with the Jews. A far cry from most of Chagall’s lively works, it eloquently represents hatred and is the most critically acclaimed.

9. I and the Village

Marc Chagall I and the Village

Completed in: 1911

Style: Surrealism, Cubism

Measurements: 1.92 m x 1.51 m

Location: Museum of Modern Art

Medium: Oil on canvas

This hails as the most famous painting of Chagall, made a year after he came to Paris. The canvas is dominated by a green-faced man and a goat looking earnestly at each other; with a glowing tree in between them. Overlapping these figures, appear many scenes such as that of a goat being milked along with an upside down maid. In fact, in his native Hasidic community, peasants and animals lived together, and Chagall evoked such mutual dependence through this celebrated piece.

10. The Bride (La Mariée)

Chagall Paintings

Original title: La Mariée

Completed in: 1950

Measurements: 68 cm × 53 cm

Location: Private collection, Japan

Medium: Gouache, pastel

Chagall’s ingenuity to gain the viewer’s attention by making use of only two or three colors finds valid expression in this renowned work. The bride looks glowing in her bright red dress but what is striking is the involvement of a group of animals, particularly a goat playing violin. Also featured is a fish in the sky, a girl with pigtails, a squirrel, and a man playing a flute. Acclaimed for vigorously exploiting such wild imagination, it was used in a scene in the famed movie “Notting Hill”.

11. America Windows

Chagall America Windows

Completed in: 1977

Style: Figurative

Measurements: 2.44 m x 9.78 m

Medium: Glass

Depicting a set of stained glass windows, this artwork was made by Chagall as an act of gratitude over the enthusiasm shown by the city of Chicago regarding his monumental work, The Four Seasons. Celebrating the arts of literature, music, theatre, dance, and music, it aimed to glorify the country as a seat of cultural freedom.

12. The Promenade

Marc Chagall The Promenade

Original title: La promenade

Completed in: 1918

Style: Cubism

Measurements: 169.6 x 163.4 cm

Medium: Oil on canvas

Again a euphoric testament of the intense passion shared by the artist and his wife, this double portrait was acclaimed by both the Surrealists as well as his pre‑war comrades. It manifests Chagall beamingly holding the hands of an equally effervescent Bella, who floats above him, with a spirit of exuberance being reflected even in the fluttering folds of her dress.

13. Self Portrait

Marc Chagall Self Portrait

Original title: Autoportrait

Completed in: 1914

Style: Naive Art

Measurements: 30x 26.5 cm

Location: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, US

Medium: Oil on paper

Chagall invariably sought inspiration from his Russian origins and Jewish heritage, and accordingly a major portion of his paintings revolve around his life spent in Vitebsk, defining sometimes his teacher, his wife and here as can be seen, himself.

14. Cow with Parasol

Chagall Cow with Parasol

Completed in: 1946

Style: Surrealism

Measurements: 77.5 x 106 cm

Location: Private collection

Medium: Oil on canvas

This piece focuses on an uncommon subject – a cow, clutching a parasol, striding over the roofs of a village with the orange glow of the sun visible behind. The vivacity and gaiety reflected in the work shed light on the artist’s reviving of his passions under the acquaintanceship of his new-found love, Virginia Haggard McNeill.

15. Four Seasons

Chagall Four Seasons

Completed in: 1972

Location: Chase Tower Plaza, Chicago

The panels of this mosaic artwork, featuring musicians, lovers, animals and a sailboat, symbolize the happiness attained through music. They lyrically glorify the onset of the 4 seasons, spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Other notable paintings of the master include The Rabbi, Mermaid, The Blue Circus, Romeo and Juliet, Green Violinist, The Three Candles, Clown in Love, The Dead Man, Blue Angel, and War.