The artwork, titled “The Circus,” was created by Marc Chagall in 1960 during his time in France. The medium utilized for this piece is lithography on paper, and it falls within the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. The dimensions of the artwork are 32 x 24 cm, and it is classified as a genre painting.
In the artwork, a lively, dreamlike scene unfolds, infused with the whimsy and exuberance characteristic of Chagall’s style. Dominated by vibrant yellow, the lithograph depicts a central figure, seemingly a circus performer, rendered in stark black and white with playful, exaggerated proportions. The figure is in mid-dance, with one leg raised high and arms gracefully positioned, embodying the dynamism and vitality of a circus act. Surrounding the performer are other elements typical of a circus: a clown figure on the right, and a horse’s head emerging on the left. The composition captures the fantastical and joyful essence of a circus, employing surreal and abstract elements that evoke a sense of wonder and enchantment.
