Marc Chagall’s Revolutionary Wedding Portrait

In this episode of Anatomy of an Artwork, explore the details of Double Portrait with Wine Glass, an iconic painting from Marc Chagall that resides in the permanent collection of the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris. Using a synthesis of different styles, including Cubism, Surrealism and Russian folk art, Chagall masterfully renders a portrait of love that eclipses the political upheaval surrounding its creation. Completed in the first winter of the Russian Revolution, Double Portrait is a testament to Chagall's enduring love for his first wife, Bella, and his status as a Modern art icon. A vibrant color scheme coupled with a personal, yet whimsical spirituality led one critic to describe the piece as “Hebrew Jazz in Paint.”