“Still Life with Bouquet” is a lithography on paper created by Marc Chagall in 1962, during his time in France. This work exemplifies the Naïve Art or Primitivism movement with its simplified and candid artistic representation. The dimensions of the artwork measure 62.5 x 50 cm, and it is categorized as a still life genre, which traditionally depicts inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which are either natural (like food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or man-made (like glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes, etc.).
The artwork presents a dense and lush bouquet that is seemingly untamed, with a profusion of flowers and foliage that spread across most of the composition. The colors within the bouquet appear to be bold and varied, with hints of red, yellow, and green against a darker, predominantly black background that enhances their vibrancy. In the background, a window with white sills offers a contrast to the dense flora and possibly suggests an openness to the outdoors. A bird, rendered in a playful, colorful manner, adorns the upper left, adding a whimsical touch that is often found in Chagall’s work and contributes to the folkloric feel associated with Naïve Art.
A solitary female figure is partially visible to the right, her facial features defined by simple, delicate lines that suggest a contemplative or wistful mood. She seems to be an observer or perhaps a part of the still life scene herself, blurring the line between the living and the inanimate. In the artwork’s foreground, we observe additional elements such as a bottle and a bowl with fruits, which are classic still life objects. However, Chagall renders these objects with a freedom of form that aligns with the Primitivism aesthetic.
Overall, this artwork by Chagall embodies the Naïve Art movement’s tendency to prioritize a direct and instinctive approach to painting over strict realism or technical precision, resulting in a composition that is both emotionally engaging and enigmatically simple.
