The artwork, titled “Jacob leaves his country and his family to go to Egypt (Genesis XLVI, 5 7),” was created by Marc Chagall in 1931 in Paris, France. This religious painting, part of the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement, is rendered in gouache and oil on paper and measures 56.5 by 49 centimeters.
The painting depicts a biblical scene from Genesis, where Jacob and his family leave their homeland for Egypt. The composition is filled with numerous figures, crowded and animated, emphasizing the large entourage accompanying Jacob. Dominating the center, a figure believed to be Jacob rides a camel, highlighted by his distinctive blue garment. Surrounding him, women, children, and men are portrayed with expressionistic faces and loose, fluid brushstrokes, capturing a sense of movement and urgency. The background features subtle hints of landscape, with paler hues suggesting distant hills and an expansive sky, providing depth and context to the journey. Chagall’s use of vivid yet harmonious colors and abstract, almost dreamlike forms reflect his signature style, imbuing the scene with both a sense of solemnity and otherworldliness.
