The artwork titled “Self Portrait with Muse (Dream)” is an oil painting on canvas by the artist Marc Chagall, created between 1917 and 1918 in Liozna, near Vitebsk, Belarus. The painting, which belongs to the Cubism movement, measures 157 by 140 centimeters and falls under the genre of self-portraiture. Currently, this artwork resides in a private collection.
The composition of the artwork presents a surreal scene dominated by shades of blue. On the left side of the canvas, one can observe the artist himself, depicted in a slightly abstract manner, seated on a stool with his arm extended, as if he is engaging in a creative process or in search of inspiration. On the right, an ethereal muse, rendered with flowing lines and soft textures, appears to be floating, enveloped in swirling drapery and surrounded by a heavenly aura. She extends her hand towards the artist, evoking a sense of divine inspiration or guidance. The background is intricately detailed with elements of a studio, reinforcing the theme of artistic creation. The mosaic-like arrangement of geometric forms and the monochromatic color palette imbue the scene with the distinct characteristics of Cubism, merging dreamlike imagination with structured abstraction.
