The artwork, titled “Moses, on the order of the Lord has struck the rock in Horeb and sparked a source (Exodus, xvii, 4-7),” is an etching on paper created by Marc Chagall circa 1934 in Paris, France. It is part of the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and measures 30.2 by 24 cm. This piece belongs to the religious painting genre and forms a part of Chagall’s “Etchings for the Bible” series, which spans the years from 1930 to 1939 and 1952 to 1956.
The artwork depicts a biblical scene from the book of Exodus. Central to the composition is Moses, towering above the other figures, striking a rock to provide water to the Israelites as commanded by the Lord. Around him, a crowd, consisting of both men and women in traditional attire, gathers to witness and benefit from the miraculous event. Chagall’s signature use of expressive lines and evocative figures brings an emotional intensity to this religious narrative, highlighting the profound moment of divine intervention and the ensuing relief provided to the people.
