The artwork, titled “Moses is saved from the waters of Nile by Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus II, 5-6),” was created by Marc Chagall around 1956 in France. Rendered in etching on paper, this piece is an example of Naïve Art (Primitivism) and belongs to the religious painting genre. The artwork forms part of Chagall’s illustrious series, “Etchings for the Bible,” produced between 1930-1939 and 1952-1956. It measures 29.2 by 23 centimeters.
In the artwork, Marc Chagall depicts the biblical scene of Moses being rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter from the waters of the Nile. The composition is imbued with a sense of reverence and simplicity characteristic of Naïve Art. The central figures are rendered with an almost delicate, yet emotionally evocative, line quality, emphasizing the sacredness of the moment. The water of the Nile dominates the background, while the foreground is populated with the vigilant and humble figures, portraying a timeless narrative through an unpretentious yet powerful visual language.
