Self-Portrait with Signature Possibly 1963 - 1968

This self-portrait with signature was made by Marc Chagall, in 1968. Executed in pen, it’s both a self-representation and an intimate dedication. Chagall, a Jewish artist, experienced firsthand the tumultuous history of the 20th century, including displacement and persecution. His identity profoundly influenced his artistic vision. He often incorporated Jewish folklore and symbols into his works, acting as a form of cultural preservation and resistance against erasure. This simple line drawing seems to be a personal note to John and Evelyn, dated March 6, 1964. There's an informality to the sketch, a sense of Chagall presenting himself without the layers of artistic flourish seen in some of his larger works. He wrote, "a preview of the real thing, I hope we shall see together one day." What exactly that real thing is, he doesn’t say. The portrait, with its whimsical lines, captures Chagall's enduring ability to blend personal experience with a universal longing for connection.