The Lion Grown Old 1927 - 1930

With countless little strokes, Marc Chagall made this etching, The Lion Grown Old. You can almost feel the push and pull of the artist's hand moving across the plate to create those marks, and the image comes alive. I am drawn to the image of the old lion, with its expression of vulnerability. What's going on in his head? Is he aware of the animals around him or is he lost in memories? The animals dance in the picture plane and in the lion's mind, and the lines capture a sense of movement, like musical notes or fleeting thoughts. The surface feels complex and chaotic, yet somehow unified. It reminds me of other artists who work with line and gesture, like Cy Twombly. Artists are always in conversation with each other.