The artwork titled “The Israelites go over Jordan following of the Ark of the Covenant that is brought to them at the behest of Joshua (Joshua, III, 3-6)” is a revered piece created by Marc Chagall around 1956 in France. Rendered using the medium of etching on paper, the artwork falls under the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. It measures 30.7 x 23.5 cm and is a representation of a religious painting. This piece belongs to the series “Etchings for the Bible,” which spans the years 1930-1939 and 1952-1956.
The artwork depicts a biblical scene, wherein the Israelites are shown crossing the river Jordan following the Ark of the Covenant as commanded by Joshua, as described in the Book of Joshua, chapters 3 to 6. The etching illustrates a profound religious moment, with figures solemnly gathered around the Ark, which is adorned with symbolic elements. The presence of Hebrew script and stylized figures adds to the historical and spiritual gravitas of the scene, captured through Chagall’s unique artistic lens, embodying the mystical and naive qualities characteristic of his style.
