“The Poet Reclining,” created by Marc Chagall in 1915, is an oil painting on cardboard belonging to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. It measures 77 by 77.5 cm and falls within the genre painting category. The artwork is currently housed in the Tate Modern in London, UK.
The painting features a serene, rural scene with a large fir tree on the left and a rustic barn in the background. In the foreground, a poet reclines on the grass, seemingly in peaceful contemplation. The figure is dressed in a soft lilac shirt and dark trousers, resting his head on a bright yellow bag. Nearby, a brown horse and a white sheep graze calmly, contributing to the pastoral tranquility of the scene. The use of muted colors and simple forms evokes a sense of innocence and nostalgia, emblematic of the Naïve Art movement. The sky, with its soft pink and purple hues, enhances the dreamlike quality of the artwork, creating an overall atmosphere of calm and introspection.
