The artwork, titled “The Lion go hunting and the Donkey,” is an etching created by the artist Marc Chagall in 1930. This piece is part of the “Fables of La Fontaine” series and falls under the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. The genre of the artwork is allegorical painting.
The artwork depicts a scene where a lion and a donkey are engaged in a hunt, likely inspired by one of Jean de La Fontaine’s fables. In the foreground, the lion is illustrated with dynamic strokes and vivid colors, particularly emphasizing its red and yellow hues. The donkey, contrastingly rendered in darker tones, merges with the shadowy and textured background. The composition is characterized by Chagall’s distinct style, incorporating both realistic and fantastical elements, creating a whimsical yet profound narrative rooted in the allegorical tradition of La Fontaine’s tales. The etching technique adds a layer of depth and texture, contributing to the overall ethereal and dreamlike quality of the piece.