The Ass in the Lion's Skin 1927 - 1930

This is Marc Chagall’s, 'The Ass in the Lion's Skin' an etching illustrating the well known fable by Aesop. Here we see the ass, a symbol of foolishness, attempting to masquerade as a lion, an animal of courage and nobility. This motif of disguise and mistaken identity is echoed throughout art history. Think of the many depictions of the wolf in sheep’s clothing, the deceptive exterior hiding a predatory nature. The mask, the costume, the facade: these are all recurring symbols that speak to our deepest fears and desires. We see this in commedia dell'arte with its stock characters and symbolic masks. The human impulse to conceal, to transform, it taps into our primal instincts and the complexities of human identity. Chagall reminds us that these symbols have a life of their own, constantly resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different contexts. The tale of the ass is not only about the foolishness of vanity, but also the enduring power of symbols in our collective consciousness.