The artwork titled “Joshua receives the blessing of Moses (Deuteronomy, XXXIV, 9)” is a masterful etching on paper created by Marc Chagall around 1956 in France. This piece belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and is part of the “Etchings for the Bible” series, produced between 1930-1939 and 1952-1956. The artwork, measuring 32.9 x 21.9 cm, is a religious painting that illustrates the biblical moment described in Deuteronomy, where Joshua receives Moses’ blessing.
In the composition, Marc Chagall uses expressive lines and a nuanced black-and-white palette to depict Moses’s act of blessing Joshua. Moses, portrayed with a benevolent and wise expression, is seen placing his hands upon Joshua’s head in a gesture of imparting divine grace and leadership. The intricate etching technique captures the flowing robes and subtle dynamics of the scene, adding depth and texture to the spiritual encounter. Chagall’s unique style, characterized by its blend of dreamlike whimsy and profound religious symbolism, here conveys a sense of sacredness and continuity of faith in this pivotal moment of biblical history.
