The artwork titled “Rahab and the Spies of Jericho,” created by Marc Chagall in 1960 in France, is a religious painting rendered through the medium of lithography on paper. The piece, belonging to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement, measures 52.5 by 38 centimeters and is part of the artist’s “Bible lithographs” series from the same year.
In the artwork, Chagall employs a mystical and abstract style to depict the biblical narrative of Rahab and the spies of Jericho. The composition features metaphorical and fluid forms immersed in deep blues and dark hues, creating a somber yet spiritually charged ambiance. Figures emerging from the background appear to intertwine with their surroundings, encapsulating a sense of secrecy and revelation pertinent to the biblical story. The simplicity of form and the dream-like quality of the scene are characteristic of Chagall’s evocative approach to religious storytelling, encapsulating profound emotional and spiritual depth within the boundaries of Naïve Art.
