The artwork titled “Abraham is going to sacrifice his son” is a creation of Marc Chagall, completed in 1931 while he was in Paris, France. This religious painting, which measures 62 x 48.5 cm, utilizes mediums such as gouache and oil on paper. Chagall’s piece is associated with the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement, which often is characterized by a childlike simplicity and candidness in its visual storytelling.
In the artwork, a narrative scene from a biblical story is depicted with vivid emotional intensity. Abraham, identifiable by his age and distinguished facial features, is poised in the act of preparing to sacrifice his son. His right hand wields a knife, raised in a moment of dramatic tension. The son lies underneath Abraham, depicted with a peaceful yet unconscious or submissive demeanor, seemingly unaware of the impending danger. Above them, an angelic figure, executed with flowing lines and a bright, ethereal quality, intervenes—its hand gestures indicating a halt to Abraham’s actions. The colors in the artwork are bold and expressive, with dark tones emphasizing the gravity of the scene set against the night sky, while the white angel contrasts as a symbol of divine intervention and peace. The overall composition evokes a sense of imminent rescue and the dramatic interplay between human obedience to the divine and celestial mercy.
