The artwork titled “In the sky over Opera” is a lithograph on paper by Marc Chagall, created in 1980 in Saint-paul-de-vence, France. It belongs to the Surrealism movement and measures 116 cm in height and 75.5 cm in width. Characterized as a cityscape, this piece consists of a distinctive blend of symbolic elements and fantastical imagery typical of Chagall’s style.
The artwork depicts a central figure, possibly a performer, dominating the composition, with a striking blend of colors and a fluid, dream-like quality that conveys a sense of motion and fantasy. The figure holds a bouquet of flowers, symbolizing perhaps the intersection of nature and human creativity, and is clothed in a patterned costume that adds to the whimsical atmosphere. To the left of the central figure, a smaller female figure appears almost to be engaged in a delicate dance or interaction with the central subject.
In the background, the titular Opera House is represented in a simplified yet recognizable form, anchoring the floating figures to a specific cultural context. Chagall’s composition seamlessly integrates the human figures, architecture, and the celestial elements, including a white bird and planetary bodies floating in the upper part of the scene, suggesting a connection between the earthly and the divine or otherworldly.
The color palette consists largely of soft blues, greens, and yellows, creating a harmonious and tranquil atmosphere. The use of lithography as the medium allows for the gentle gradations of tone and texture that contribute to the dreamy quality of the piece. The artwork as a whole is emblematic of Chagall’s surrealist influence, as it blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination, and invokes a sense of yearning and poetic reverie.
