“Abraham and three Angels” is a religious painting by Marc Chagall, created in 1966 in Saint-paul-de-Vence, France. Executed in oil on canvas, the artwork is a substantial piece, with dimensions of 190 x 292 cm. It is associated with the Naïve Art movement, also known as Primitivism, which is characterized by a childlike simplicity and frankness in its visual expression.
The artwork portrays a biblical scene which depicts the patriarch Abraham’s encounter with three angels, as narrated in the book of Genesis. These celestial visitors are rendered with large, expressive wings, their form imbued with a certain ethereal grace that is typical of Chagall’s style. The central figures of the angels are seated at a table, highlighting the gesture of hospitality Abraham and Sarah offered, which is a pivotal moment of the narrative.
Vivid colors dominate the composition, with a striking use of reds and oranges in the background that evokes a sense of otherworldly warmth and divinity. The figures are outlined with a fluidity that adds a dream-like quality to the scene, a hallmark of Chagall’s artistic practice. The setting includes other figures and elements that seem to float in the space, which may represent other aspects of the story or figures from the artist’s own imaginative lexicon.
The figures of Abraham and Sarah occupy the left and the upper right corners of the painting, respectively, while in the background, one can discern additional narrative elements, including a structure that might be their home and other characters, perhaps representing the angels before they revealed their true nature or subsequent visitors. The treatment of space and perspective is non-traditional, with the normal rules of gravity and placement given over to a more poetic arrangement that prioritizes emotional and symbolic resonances over realistic representation.
