The artwork named “Self Portrait with Palette” was created by Marc Chagall in 1917 in Liozna, near Vitebsk, Belarus. This self-portrait is notable for its association with the Cubism movement. The artwork stands as a noteworthy expression within the self-portrait genre, reflecting the unique style of its time.
In the artwork, Marc Chagall presents himself holding a painter’s palette and a brush, symbolizing his identity as an artist. The use of geometric shapes and fragmented forms, characteristic of Cubism, is evident. A vibrant blue background contrasts with the vertical array of buildings on the right, which appear to be defying gravity, adding a dream-like quality to the composition. Chagall’s face is rendered with angularity and delicate shades, emphasizing his introspective expression. The palette at the lower part of the artwork contains various colored circles, possibly representing the colors he uses to create his world. The overall composition ingeniously blends personal identity with an abstract depiction of his environment, making it a masterpiece of early 20th-century art.
