The Man and His Image 1927 - 1930

Here’s a print by Marc Chagall, its frantic markings rendered in greyscale. The artist has made it, presumably, through a process of engraving or etching – in any case, a lot of tiny marks coming together to create an image. I imagine Chagall hovering over the plate, his hand moving back and forth, building up layers of tiny lines and scratches to bring forth the image. I’m looking at a figure bending down towards its own reflection, rendered as a dark form against a lighter ground. The marks are dense, almost feverish, creating an atmosphere of dreamlike introspection. I’m reminded here of how the Abstract Expressionists worked, with all those automatic gestures; except here, instead of a loaded brush, Chagall is using a tool to make incisions, each one accumulating until it becomes a shadow. It is as if each stroke is part of a dance between artist, material, and subject. This image is a testament to the fact that artists learn from each other, influencing one another across time.