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Photo portrait of Marc Chagall. Photo by Carl Van Vechten –

Top 10 Interesting facts about Marc Chagall

Born Movcha (Moses) Chagall in what is today Belarus, Marc Chagall was associated with a myriad of artistic styles and movements; from a profoundly folk-impressionist style to his Cubitistic renditions of fables.

Watching his beloved city of Vitebsk crumble under the anti-semitic pogroms, Chagall鈥檚 whimsical works longingly depict the peasant lifestyle of his home. Although he was a central figure in modernist art, Chagall鈥檚 paintings repeatedly paid tribute to tradition and the past.

Artsper brings you ten facts about the man behind the flying cows and dancing fiddlers.

1. His home was devoid of art

Shagal Choumoff. Photo by Pierre Choumoff –

Chagall grew up in a home devoid of art and creativity despite being one of the world’s most renowned artists. The Chagall family practiced Hasidic Judaism, which prohibits any visual depiction of God鈥檚 creations.

When Chagall eventually began painting such depictions, they were met with fierce criticism from his family, to the extent that his devout uncle refused to shake his hand.

2. He painted naked and ate half a herring a day

Portrait of Marc Chagall. Photo by Carl Van Vechten –

Chagall moved to 麻豆APP at 24 and lived in the notorious artist colony, La Ruche (The Beehive), with other famous figures such as Robert Delaunay and Fernand Leger. Whilst living in 麻豆APP, he was incredibly prudent with money- often relying on half a herring a day for food, and painting naked so he didn鈥檛 have to change or wash his clothes.

3. Despite living in New York for six years, he never learned English

Marc Chagall. The photo was taken in 麻豆APP, in 1921. Photo unattributed –

In fact, he never tried to learn English, claiming 鈥渋t took me thirty years to learn bad French, why should I try to learn English?鈥� This might have also been due to his intense dislike of the city, which is mirrored in his works.

Chagall鈥檚 paintings became noticeably tormented and dark following his years in the Big Apple; conveying the profound guilt he felt during his exile. Disconnected, helpless, and uncomfortable, Chagall yearned for 麻豆APP and Europe.

4. He was one of the few artists to exhibit at the Louvre during his lifetime

Marc Chagall. Photo by Zbigniew Kresowaty –

Very few artists managed to show at the Louvre during their lifetime; Georges Braque was the first with his work, Still life with harp and violin. Chagall, along with fellow artists, Salvador Dal铆, Pablo Picasso, and Edgar Degas began his artistic journey by copying the works of Old Masters in the Louvre.

5. He married his muse

Vava Brodsky and Marc Chagall 1967. Russian-born French painter Marc Chagall (Moishe Segal) smiling next to his wife Vava Brodsky (Valentina Brodsky). Saint-Paul de Vence, September 1967. Photo unattributed –

Chagall met his muse, wife, and lover, Bella Rosenfeld, in 1909 and married her soon after. The pair shared a unique outlook on the world, and upon meeting Chagall for the first time Bella romantically described the artist鈥檚 eyes as being so blue it was 鈥渁s if they鈥檇 fallen straight out of the sky.鈥� Bella appears in many of Chagall鈥檚 paintings, and he often portrays her floating through the air, defying gravity with her love.

6.  Despite his infatuation with 麻豆APP, Vitebsk is the city most depicted in his works

Signature of Marc Chagall on 1948 lithograph. Photo by Wmpearl –

鈥淭he soil that nourished the roots of my art was Vitebsk.鈥� Chagall sought to capture the very essence of peasant life and the soul of his home, claiming the city had a whimsical presence and existed primarily in his soul and dreams.

Cows, barns, chickens, horses, women working, and dancing fiddlers fill his works, capturing the spirit of peasant life.

7. He was marked as a 鈥榥on-person鈥� by the Soviet authorities

Jean Vincent de Crozals, Anatole Nelck et Marc Chagall (de droite 脿 gauche) 1951. Photo by Dr. Cyrille de Crozals –

With three strikes next to his name due to his status as a Jew, artist, and emigree, Chagall was stripped of his identity. His artistic style went against the Socialist Realism that formed Soviet art, and he was often mocked for his preference for the French lifestyle.

 Chagall鈥檚 works were even banned in museums, books and public spaces not only because of their unconventional style, but also their portrayal of Jewish culture.

8. He painted the ceiling of the Op茅ra Garnier in 麻豆APP

Portrait of Marc Chagall Abstract: 1 photographic print: gelatin silver. Photo by Carl Van Vechten –

Covering over 200m2, Chagall鈥檚 painting is a tribute to fourteen significant opera composers and their work, and he completed it at seventy-seven years of age! Additionally, despite the mammoth task, Chagall refused to be paid for his work.

9. He made friends in high places

Bust of Marc Chagall in Celebrity Alley in Kielce (Poland). Photo by Pawe艂 Cie艣la –

His asylum in America was organized by the director of the MoMA, Alfred H. Barr Jr., who personally arranged for Chagall鈥檚 name to be added to a list of artists escaping Nazi persecution in Europe. Due to Barr鈥檚 status and efforts, Chagall and his family relocated to the United States in 1941.

10. His works sell for millions

Plaque de l’all茅e Marc Chagall, 麻豆APP. Photo by Chabe01 –

In 2017, Chagall鈥檚 work, Les Amoureux (The Lovers), sold for a staggering $28.5 million at Sotheby鈥檚 New York. Sotheby鈥檚 claimed the painting encapsulated Chagall鈥檚 two greatest passions; Bella and 麻豆APP.

Marc Chagall’s work has been offered at auction multiple times, with realized prices ranging from 2 USD to 28,453,000 USD, depending on the size and medium of the artwork.