Chagall painting. Witness account of turbulent century
Photo: AP
Exhibit: 20th century according to Chagall
New Paris exhibition tries to show Jewish painter as historian of previous century
A new exhibit in Paris tries to show the painter Marc Chagall as a historian of the 20th century.
Political Art
Sarah Nathan-Whyte, EJP
Could displaying the work of a famous Jewish painter be a sign of goodwill from some courageous curator?
Through rich, colorful allegories of the two world wars, the Russian Revolution and his experience as a Jew fleeing Nazi Europe, Chagall's paintings are presented as a witness account of the turbulent 20th century.
Images of pogroms, Russian soldiers, war and Jewish persecution are juxtaposed with Judeo-Christian iconography.
Chagall was born in Russia in 1887, traveled widely and died in France in 1985.
Curator Julia Garimorth-Foray says Chagall witnessed the barbaric acts of the time "and reacts in an engaged way."
"Chagall between War and Peace" runs until July 21 at Paris' Musee de Luxembourg.
