"La Mariée," (1950) Marc Chagall - DT

In La Mariée, The Bride, Marc Chagall (b.1887, Belarus, Russia-1985, Saint-Paul de Vence, France) fused together reality and the imaginable. This post-WWII image also demonstrate symbols of Yiddish culture. The goat playing the violoncello represents familiar figures and instruments in Jewish folklore. It is apparent that Chagall’s paintings are composed of reoccurring themes and repeating symbols. To the left of the goat we see a bride in a red dress and a man with his arms wrapped around her. It seems a bit odd to me that the dress is red rather than the traditional white. Due to the fact that Chagall painted this picture in the 1950′s it is possible that he wanted to emphasize the importance of marriage at this time, or rather that it was more of an afterthought. Between the years of 1946-1964 the population experienced a dramatic increase. The red in the bride’s dress can represent happiness and seductiveness. The background of the picture is filled with a dark blue which can represent gloominess and evoke deep emotion. This contrast may be a result of the ups and downs of society at this time. Many people at this time were still experiencing feelings of depression as a result of the war, but others were in high hopes for a bright future. I also found it interesting that Chagall painted a fish suspended in the air in the top right corner. In Judaism, fish are usually a sign of fertility and prosperity. This could be Chagall’s way of expressing his own aspirations and goals for the Jewish people and their integration into society.

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