Biography of Marc Chagall

The colours of the world

7 July 1887
March 28, 1985
Despite the francization of his name, Marc Chagall was the most important painter that Belarus has had. Born in Liosna, near Vitebsk on 7 July 1887, his real name is Moishe Segal; the Russian name was Mark Zakharovic Sagalov, abbreviated as Sagal, who according to French transcript would eventually become Chagall. Born into a family of Jewish culture and religion, the son of a merchant of herring, is the eldest of nine siblings. From 1906 to 1909 he studied first in Vitebsk, then at the Academy of Petersburg. Among his isegnanti there is Léon Bakst, Russian painter and stage designer, scholar of French art (founded in 1898 with the impresario Diaghilev avant-garde group "the art world"). This is a difficult period for Chagall as Jews could live in Petersburg only with a special permit and only for short periods. In 1909, in his frequent returns home, he met Bella Rosenfeld, who would become his wife in the future. In 1910 Chagall moved to Paris.
In the French capital knows the new currents in vogue. In particular approaches to Fauvism and Cubism. Come in art circles, attends numerous personalities in France keep sparkling cultural environments: these include Guillaume Apollinaire, Robert Delaunay, and Fernand Léger. Marc Chagall exhibits his works in 1912 both at the Salon des Indépendants, the Salon d'Automne. Delaunay presents it to Berlin in 1914 Herwarth Walden, the merchant makes a solo exhibition at his gallery "Der Sturm". The approach to the start of the war shifts Marc Chagall in Vitebsk. Ida was born in 1916, his firstborn. In his hometown of Chagall founded the Art Institute, of which he will be Editor until 1920: his successor was Kazimir Malevich. Chagall moved then to Moscow, where he created the decorations for the Jewish State Theatre "Kamerny". In 1917 the Russian revolution so that actively participates in the Soviet Minister of culture appointed Chagall art Commissioner in Vitebsk region.
Will not however successful in politics. In 1923 he moved to Germany, in Berlin, back to Paris. At this time publishes his memoirs in Yiddish language, originally written in Russian and then translated into French by his wife Bella; the painter will also write articles and poems published in various magazines and collected-hangover-in book form. In Paris has re-established contacts with the cultural world who had left and knows Ambroise Vollard, who commissioned the illustration of various books. Spends little time in 1924 and held a major retrospective of Chagall at the Galerie Barbazanges-Hodeberg. Afterwards the artist Belarusian travel a lot in Europe but also in Palestine. In 1933 is organized a major retrospective in Switzerland, at the Basel Art Museum. While in Europe are witnessing the rise of the Nazis to power, all the works of Marc Chagall in Germany are confiscated.
Some of these are listed in auction held at the Galerie Fischer Lucerne in 1939. The specter of deportation of Jews brings Chagall to decide to take refuge in America: the Beautiful, beloved companion dies September 2, 1944, frequent subject in the paintings of the artist. Chagall returned to Paris in 1947 and settled in Vence two years later. Many exhibitions, some very important, are devoted almost everywhere. Remarried in 1952 with Valentina Brodsky (called "Vavà"). Begin in these years a long series of decorations of great public buildings: in 1960 creates a stained glass window for the synagogue of the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Israel. In 1962 designs the stained glass panels for the synagogue of Hassadah Medical Center, Jerusalem, and for the Cathedral of Metz. In 1964 created the ceiling paintings of the Paris Opera. In 1965 created the large murals on the facade of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. In 1970 he draws the stained-glass windows of the choir and the rose window of the Fraumünster in Zurich. A little later is the great mosaic in Chicago. Marc Chagall dies in Saint-Paul de Vence on the 28 March 1985, at the ripe old age of ninety-seven years.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.