The artwork titled “King David (II Samuel, VI, 4 5)” was created by Marc Chagall circa 1956 in France. Executed in etching on paper, the piece belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and falls under the genre of religious painting. It measures 32 by 24.7 centimeters and is part of the series “Etchings for the Bible,” produced between 1930-1939 and 1952-1956.
The artwork depicts a scene featuring King David, identifiable by his crown and regal robe, who dominates the composition on the right side. He stands in a posture that suggests contemplation or reverence, with his gaze turned towards the left, where a large, fortified structure with a prominent tower rises. Below the structure, a crowd of figures is gathered, appearing small in comparison to the monumental scale of both the king and the architecture. Chagall’s use of etching creates a textured, almost dreamlike quality, which aligns with the Naïve Art aesthetic. The Biblical narrative of King David, taken from II Samuel, is evidently central to the work, underscoring its religious significance.
