Visions de Paris 1953

Marc Chagall made this painting, "Visions de Paris", with oil on canvas, and what's immediately striking is how he dives headfirst into colour and mark-making. It's like watching a painter think. The materiality of this work is really something. Look at that figure draped in purple, with the red streak diving through, it feels both solid and ephemeral. Chagall isn't afraid to let the paint do its thing, with areas where the brushstrokes are so clear, you can almost feel the movement of his hand. And then there are parts where the colours blend into this hazy dreamscape. That dreamy texture carries over into the floating faces and animals, that sit in the green and blue areas. It’s as if he’s having a conversation with artists like Matisse, while finding his own unique way to make paintings. It reminds us that art is always in flux, embracing uncertainty.