The artwork entitled “God appears to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus, III, 1-6)” is an etching on paper created by Marc Chagall around 1956 in France. This piece belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and measures 29.5 x 23.4 cm. It is part of the “Etchings for the Bible” series, which was made during the periods 1930-1939 and 1952-1956, depicting religious themes.
In the artwork, the central scene illustrates Moses, identifiable by his aged and wise appearance, kneeling with one hand on his chest and a rapturous expression, as he gazes towards the burning bush. The bush is filled with intricate lines and textures, portraying the divine fire, and features the sacred inscription. In the background, sheep are scattered across a pastoral landscape, symbolizing Moses’ role as a shepherd before this divine encounter. The rendering in etching medium gives the composition a textured and ethereal quality, characteristic of Chagall’s distinctive style.
