The artwork, titled “Moses spreads the darkness over Egypt (Exodus, IX, 21-23)” by Marc Chagall, was created around 1931 in Paris, France. This etching on paper belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and is part of the “Etchings for the Bible” series (1930-1939; 1952-1956). The dimensions of the piece are 29.5 x 23.4 cm, and it is categorized under the genre of religious painting.
In this etching, Marc Chagall depicts a significant biblical scene where Moses, under divine command, spreads darkness over Egypt. The artwork portrays Moses as a central figure, raising his arm to manifest the plague of darkness, symbolizing the divine intervention in the exodus narrative. The upper portion features an angelic figure gazing down, accentuating the spiritual context of the event. The dense, dark lines and textures in the etching encapsulate the ominous atmosphere of the scene, invoking a sense of awe and solemnity. The work exemplifies Chagall’s distinctive style, blending elements of primitivism with profound religious symbolism.
