“Red Roofs” is a cityscape oil painting by Marc Chagall, created during the years 1953 to 1954 in France, reflecting the artist’s association with Surrealism. The dimensions of the artwork are 229.7 cm in height by 112.9 cm in width. The piece is currently held in a private collection, highlighting its exclusivity and the value placed upon it by individual collectors.
The artwork presents a vibrant, dream-like depiction of a cityscape dominated by red roofs, which establish a warm and inviting yet surreal atmosphere. The foreground of the composition is taken up by a large, curved figure draped in red, bending over a smaller figure that is bathed in the glow of a bright yellow light, possibly representing a mother and child. The maternal figure seems to lovingly protect or interact with the child, emphasizing a tender and nurturing moment. In the middle ground, a man stands facing away from the viewer, looking towards a dense cluster of houses which saturate the background. An air of mystique is imparted by the tree-line and the circular moon or sun, radiating a soft light, with the presence of a yellow-hued angelic figure floating within the celestial orb. The composition also features a scattered bouquet of flowers and a toy-like horse, contributing to the whimsical and fantastical elements characteristic of Chagall’s work. Slight distortions of perspective and scale, typical of Surrealist works, imbue the scene with an otherworldly quality that transcends the mundane and invites viewers to interpret the scene with their imaginations.
