“Barber’s Shop (Uncle Zusman)” by Marc Chagall, created in 1914 in Liozna near Vitebsk, Belarus, is a genre painting that belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. The artwork, meticulously executed using gouache, oil, and paper, measures 49.3 by 37.2 centimeters and is currently housed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.
The artwork presents an interior scene of a barbershop. The room is characterized by vibrant and somewhat whimsical details, such as the patterned wallpaper with floral motifs. A man, presumably Uncle Zusman as suggested by the title, sits on a wooden chair near a mirror with an ornate black frame. Various items, including bottles and grooming tools, are carefully placed on shelves to the left. The use of color and light imparts a warm, slightly surreal atmosphere, typical of Chagall’s unique artistic narrative. The piece captivates with its quaint charm and detailed observation of everyday life, all rendered in a distinctive naive style that blends simplicity with deeper emotional undertones.
