The artwork titled “Near Gibeon Joshua, to give his troops time to gain the victory, stops the sun (Joshua X, 12-14)” was created by Marc Chagall around 1956 in France. The medium of this piece is etching on paper, and it is part of the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. With dimensions of 29.6 x 25 cm, this religious-themed artwork is part of the “Etchings for the Bible” series, produced between 1930-1939 and 1952-1956.
This etching compellingly portrays the biblical event where Joshua commands the sun to stand still to ensure his troops’ victory, as narrated in Joshua 10:12-14. The scene is imbued with a sense of solemnity and divine intervention. Joshua, depicted in flowing garments, stands tall and authoritative, his arm outstretched in a commanding gesture. The multitude of figures around him, presumably his troops, look on in earnest anticipation. Chagall’s characteristic style combines a primitive simplicity with emotive power, emphasizing the miraculous nature of this momentous event. Dark, swirling clouds in the background enhance the dramatic atmosphere, drawing the viewer’s attention to the central figure and his divine act.
