Chagall and the Russian Avant-Garde

     I was thrilled to hear that the art of Marc Chagall was leaving its home at the Centre Pompidou in Paris for a short stay at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). The exhibition, entitled Chagall and the Russian Avant-Garde was not only a tribute to the artist and his work, but also other Russian artists such as Vassily Kandinsky, Alexei Jawensky, Natalia Goncharova and Alexander Archipenko, among others. Most were from Vitebsk and the Ukraine, former regions of the Russian Empire.

     The combined works of these artists depict a world that is simultaneously surrealistic and thought provoking. This form of art was prolific between 1890 and 1930, although some experts would argue that the movement lasted much longer. 

     Chagall was born in 1887 in Vitebsk Russia, now Belarus.  His art inspired a movement of surrealism, cubism, symbolism and expressionism dominated by naive art or primitivism. His fantastical art displays people soaring and animals cavorting like humans; often on the same canvas. He moved to Paris in 1911; returned to Russia during the Revolution; and made France his permanent home for the next 60 years, becoming a French citizen. He died in St Paul, France

     Marc Chagall was 98 years old when he died. Throughout his life as an artist, he combined fantasy, his rural Jewish roots and hasidic upbringing. His work, which denotes life’s stages, such as death, love, life, birth, are curiously folksy and appear childish in its execution. However, his work has profound meaning that no child could possibly exact. His use of colour darkens the canvas, but is often imbued with a bright palate. 

     But my favourite, and perhaps Chagall’s best-known oil on canvas, is the Double Portrait with a Glass of Wine, painted between 1917-1918. To get the full effect, take a few minutes in front of the 233x136 cm tall canvas and gaze upon the somewhat cubist depiction of the man and woman portrayed. The images are playful and whimsical as a man frolics on the shoulders of the woman. She holds a fan and he a wineglass. In the background, a glimpse of Vitebsk and an angel soar playing along with the couple.

     The exhibit also features two films depicting the life and times of everyday Russia in the 1920s. One of the films is entitled, Man with a Movie Camera by Dziga Vertov.

     The exhibit is on at the AGO until January 15, 2012 and is worth the price of admission if Paris is out of reach at this time. 


Written by: Irene Fantopoulos