The artwork, titled “Wandering Jew,” was created in 1914 by the artist Marc Chagall, who originates from Liozna, near Vitebsk, Belarus. Executed using ink on paper, this piece belongs to the Expressionism art movement and is classified under genre painting.
The artwork depicts an elderly, bearded figure donned in a long, dark coat and hat, walking with the aid of a cane. He strides forward against a simple backdrop of village houses, which appear almost miniature in comparison to his towering presence. The monochromatic ink rendering accentuates the stark contrast and heavy contours, evoking a sense of melancholy and solitude. The figure’s bowed posture and the exaggerated dimensions contribute to the expressionist style, aiming to capture and convey deep emotional experience rather than physical reality. The small, almost hidden detail of a figure waving in the background adds a subtle narrative element to the scene.
