Bouquet printanier et bouc flutiste 1959

Marc Chagall made this painting called 'Bouquet printanier et bouc flutiste' with a flurry of colorful marks, probably sometime in the mid-20th century. The colours are light and floaty, and seem to evoke a vibrant dream. I can imagine Chagall in his studio, maybe with some music playing, quickly capturing the essence of his subject. See how the paint is applied in loose, energetic strokes, especially in the bouquet of flowers? The paint isn't thick or laboured. It’s light and airy, and the speed makes it feel immediate. Chagall has incorporated an unusual cast of characters into this domestic scene: a goat-like flautist, a human head in profile, and a vase overflowing with flowers. The artist is having a conversation with Picasso, with Matisse, with all of art history! He’s also showing us how painting can be a space for improvisation, for bringing together unexpected elements in new ways, as well as a space where, as painters, we discover and respond to what came before us.