The exhibition presents some of the most famous works of the 20th century. ceramics of artists who shaped the development of art of the last century and tapestries woven according to their works. More than 30 thousand visitors visited the unique exhibition.
Born to be an artist
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The firstborn Chagall, who grew up in a family of nine children in Vitebsk (then in the Russian Empire, now Belarus), was expected to help support the family financially. Therefore, his early talent for fine arts was not met with enthusiasm by his parents, they wished his son another profession – a clerk or an accountant. However, this did not stop the future artist, and, not satisfied with the child’s zyzim, his mother took him to Yehud Pen’s drawing school.
Chagall was one of the best students in drawing classes at school. Once he saw his classmate copying a picture from a magazine. After going to the library, he took a magazine and copied all the reproductions there, the first of which, as he later remembered when writing his autobiography, was a portrait of the composer Rubinstein. The classmate showed that it is possible to improve technique and learn by copying the work of others, and Chagall found inspiration to create in Judaism, Yiddish culture and the Hasidic environment, which greatly influenced him as an artist.
He deepened his knowledge at the art school in St. Petersburg, which at that time was considered the art center of the empire. in 1911 Chagall arrived in Paris and stayed at the artists’ residence “Avilys” (The Hive). Litvak artists who formed the Paris school (School of Paris) nucleus. Chagall studied at various art schools, including The Academy of La Palette and the Great Cottage. Already at that time, the budding artist’s works contrasted with the prevailing and clearly visible modernist art trends in Paris (for example, Cubism), which did not impress him at all.
In his free time from studies, Chagall spent visiting the galleries and museums of Paris, he often visited the Louvre Museum, where he continued to learn to draw by copying the works of the old masters, at that time, of course, not realizing that he would later become one of the few artists whose works would be exhibited at the Louvre. while the artist himself is alive.
The artist’s muse – wife Bella Rosenfeld
While studying in Saint Petersburg, Chagall often returned to Vitebsk. During one such visit, he met his sweetheart, Bella Rosenfeld, the daughter of a wealthy jeweler. Later, describing the moment of acquaintance, the artist said that he felt as if she knew everything about his childhood, present and future, and Bella herself emphasized in her memories that she immediately noticed Chagall’s eyes, which were so blue, as if “they had fallen straight from the sky.”
© Archives Marc and Ida Chagall, Paris/Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall in Madoura’s pottery workshop in Valorise, circa 1948-1952
Bella became the artist’s muse, her image can be seen in many of the author’s works. Before the marriage, Chagall had a hard time convincing Bella’s parents that he was the right husband for their daughter, who were worried that the poor, budding artist would not be able to provide for her. This further encouraged Chagall to pursue success and become a recognized artist in the West. The lovers waited for marriage for six years.
Photo by Gintarė Grigėnaitė/Exhibition Chagall. Picasso. Ernst. Ceramics and tapestries
Chagall’s first exhibition in Berlin was already a success: more than a hundred of his first exhibited works were praised by German art critics. However, further plans were adjusted by the First World War: after arriving in Vitebsk, the borders of the empire were closed a few weeks later due to the outbreak of war. Only in 1923 Chagall managed to come to France with his wife Bella and first child Ida.
Common creative experiments of Chagall and Picasso
Chagall lived in France with his family until 1941, when he had to leave the country due to the Nazi occupation and retreat to the United States. Chagall returned to Europe only after the Second World War and the unexpected death of his beloved wife Bella.
Having settled on the French Riviera, where old antique ceramic traditions existed, in the 19th century. and the 20th century revived by avant-garde artists at the junction, the artist discovered himself as the creator of one of the oldest types of art. In just over twenty years – 1949-1972. – Chagall created more than 350 ceramic works.
Photo by Gintarė Grigėnaitė/Exhibition Chagall. Picasso. Ernst. Ceramics and tapestries
According to the curator of the exhibition Dr. Chagall often met one of the most famous Spanish painters – Pablo Picasso, while creating in Vilma Gradinskaitė’s ceramic workshop “Madoura” in Valoris. Both artists experimented with various techniques, looked for unexpected color combinations of burning glazes, molded and decorated vases, plates, panels. Chagall and Picasso saw a special primordial symbolism in ceramics, when the earth is transformed through fire, that is, the clay takes on new forms and meanings.
“Chagall met the weaving master Yvette Cauquil-Prince in the mid-1970s, and their creative collaboration lasted more than two decades. Cauquil-Prince devoted his knowledge and talent to the transfer of works by Chagall, Picasso, Max Ernst and other artists to textiles.
The exhibition also exhibits the first tapestries based on Chagall’s sketches – “Family of Harlequins” (1966) and “Creation” (1971). After Chagall’s death in 1985 the craftswoman continued to weave tapestries based on the artist’s works”, says exhibition curator Dr. Vilma Gradinskaite.
© Archives Yvette Cauquil-Prince, Paris1972/Marc Chagall and Yvette Cauquil-Prince at the Harlequin Family tapestry, Quai d’Anjou, Paris, 1972
These tapestries woven by Cauquil-Prince and ceramic works by Chagall, Picasso, Ernst can be seen at the LNDM Museum of Applied Art and Design (Arsenalo St. 3A, Vilnius).
The works of art exhibited in the exhibition belong to the collections of Ida Chagall and Michel Brodsky, as well as Yvette Cauquil-Prince.
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2024-09-10 07:35:22
Marc Chagall: A Colorful Life of Art and Love
The exhibition featuring the works of Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, and Max Ernst is a testament to the mastery of these 20th-century art giants. With over 30,000 visitors, this unique exhibition showcases ceramics and tapestries inspired by the artists’ iconic works. In this article, we will delve into the fascinating life of Marc Chagall, a Russian-French-Jewish artist who left an indelible mark on modern art.
Born to be an Artist
Marc Chagall was born on July 7, 1887, in Vitebsk, Russia (now Belarus), to a family of nine children [[2]]. His early talent for fine arts was not met with enthusiasm by his parents, who wanted him to pursue a more financially stable profession. However, Chagall’s mother recognized his gift and took him to Yehud Pen’s drawing school, where he excelled [[1]]. This early encouragement laid the foundation for Chagall’s future success.
The Pursuit of Artistic Excellence
Chagall deepened his knowledge at the art school in St. Petersburg, which was considered the art center of the empire at that time [[2]]. In 1911, he arrived in Paris, where he stayed at the artists’ residence “Avilys” (The Hive), which was a hub for Litvak artists who formed the Paris school (School of Paris) nucleus [[1]]. Chagall studied at various art schools, including The Academy of La Palette and the Great Cottage. Unlike his contemporaries who were drawn to modernist art trends like Cubism, Chagall’s work stood out for its unique style and inspiration from Judaism, Yiddish culture, and the Hasidic environment [[2]].
The Artist’s Muse - Bella Rosenfeld
While studying in Saint Petersburg, Chagall often returned to Vitebsk, where he met his future wife, Bella Rosenfeld, the daughter of a wealthy jeweler [[1]]. Bella became Chagall’s muse, and her image can be seen in many of his works. The couple’s love story is a testament to the power of art and passion. Chagall had to convince Bella’s parents that he was the right husband for their daughter, and their six-year wait for marriage only fueled his determination to succeed as an artist [[1]].
A Legacy of Art and Passion
Marc Chagall’s life was a beautiful blend of art, love, and passion. He continued to draw inspiration from his Jewish heritage and the world around him,