The artwork “Isaiah” by Marc Chagall was created in 1956 in France and is a lithograph on paper. It measures 35 x 26.5 cm and is a part of the artist’s “Bible lithographs” series. This piece reflects the Naïve Art movement, also known as Primitivism and belongs to the religious painting genre.
In examining the artwork, one is immediately struck by the bold contrast of color against a predominantly dark background. The figure depicted appears to be in a state of spiritual or prophetic ecstasy, with arms raised and a gaze that could be interpreted as looking beyond the material world. The use of vivid and somewhat unrefined shapes gives the figure a raw, emotional quality that is characteristic of Chagall’s work within the Naïve Art genre. The presence of the red sun-like form and the blue moon-like shape adds a celestial, otherworldly dimension to the scene, underscoring the religious and mystical themes that are frequently found in Chagall’s representation of biblical narratives. The brushstrokes seem intentionally simplified, lending an immediacy and expressiveness to the composition that speaks to the heartfelt spirituality conveyed in the subject matter.
