The artwork titled “Isaiah’s oracle on the ruins of Babylon (Isaiah XIII)” is a significant piece by the artist Marc Chagall, created around 1956 in France. It is an etching on paper, contributing to the genre of religious painting. Measuring 32.1 x 25.3 cm, this artwork is a part of the “Etchings for the Bible” series produced between 1930-1939 and further extended from 1952 to 1956. The piece reflects the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement, which is known for its simplistic and unrefined aesthetic, often characterized by a childlike perspective and a sense of purity in its visual narration.
The artwork is intricately detailed, with a central figure that appears angelic, dominating the composition with outstretched wings and bearing a large flag. This celestial being seems to float above a landscape in turmoil, where the ruins of buildings suggest the aftermath of destruction in Babylon. Small figures are scattered throughout the lower portion of the etching, appearing to flee or navigate through the chaos. Their gestures and poses express despair and urgency, conveying a sense of the biblical prophecy’s weight and impact. Chagall’s use of deep, dense etching marks to construct the dark, potent sky above and the devastated earth below underlines the somber theme of divine judgment and ruin. This work resonates with spiritual depth and captures the essence of Chagall’s rich symbolic and narrative style.
