The artwork titled “Statuary and the Statue of Jupiter” was created by Marc Chagall in 1927. This piece is an aquatint on paper and is part of the “Fables of La Fontaine” series. It falls under the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement, and its genre is classified as literary painting. Chagall’s approach is characterized by a childlike simplicity and an apparent disregard for classical proportion and perspective.
The artwork itself is a richly textured black and white composition. It depicts a scene where the central figure appears to be a statue or representation of Jupiter, the Roman king of the gods. This figure is seated on what seems to be a dais or throne, holding a staff or scepter, indicating power and authority. His posture and facial expression suggest a living presence rather than a lifeless sculpture. The scenery around the figure includes what could be interpreted as interior elements, with various objects and perhaps the small figure of a person in the background, observing the statue or participating in some related narrative. The vague outlines and sketchy nature of the background items leave much to the viewer’s interpretation, a characteristic of Chagall’s whimsical style and storytelling through art. The energy and motion conveyed by the aquatint hint at the drama and mystical qualities often found in Chagall’s work, possibly alluding to the fables which served as the inspiration for the series to which this piece belongs.
