The artwork, titled “Over Vitebsk,” was created by Marc Chagall in 1914 in Liozna, near Vitebsk, Belarus. The piece is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 31 x 39 cm, and belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. It is a cityscape that is currently housed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US.
In the artwork, the viewer is presented with a whimsical and dreamlike depiction of a snow-covered townscape. Central to the scene is a figure hovering in mid-air, seemingly gliding over the rooftops of brightly colored buildings. The use of vibrant yellows, reds, and blues creates a striking contrast against the muted tones of the snowy background. The floating figure, dressed in dark clothing and holding a walking stick, appears to move with ease above the quaint, tightly-packed houses, capturing a sense of surrealism and fantasy typical of Chagall’s work. The architectural forms, adorned with distinctive rooftops and contrasting brushwork, further emphasize the enchanting and folkloric character of the town, infusing the scene with both realism and otherworldliness.
