The artwork titled “Elijah resurrects the son of the widow of Zarephath (I Kings, XVII, 17-22)” was created by Marc Chagall around 1956 in France. It is an etching on paper with dimensions of 30.9 x 24.5 cm. This piece is a part of the “Etchings for the Bible” series created between 1930-1939 and later between 1952-1956. The medium reflects Chagall’s engagement with Naïve Art, also known as Primitivism, and belongs to the genre of religious painting, demonstrating the artist’s profound interest in biblical themes.
The artwork bears the signature elements of Chagall’s expressive and symbolic style, with an evocative and simplified representation of the biblical story where the prophet Elijah pleads to God and resurrects the widow’s son. The composition is dominated by two main figures: the lifeless boy lying on a bed and the prophet Elijah kneeling in prayer with his arms raised towards heaven where a divine light appears to emanate, possibly signifying the presence of God. The scene is rendered with textured lines and dark tones, depicting a powerful moment of prayer, desperation, and miraculous intervention. The overall execution of the etching is characteristic of Chagall’s approach to narrative and emotional resonance in his religious artworks.
