Greeting Card for 1970 1969

This greeting card was made by Marc Chagall around 1970. The embracing couple serves as a central motif, radiating intimacy and connection. The embrace itself is a symbol laden with cultural and historical significance. Recall the tender embraces in ancient Roman funerary reliefs, or even the sacred unions depicted in religious art, where the act of embracing signifies not only love but also reconciliation, peace, and divine grace. Chagall, steeped in his Jewish heritage, likely drew upon such imagery, blending sacred and secular themes to communicate profound human emotions. Note also the presence of birds, often symbols of freedom, peace, and the soul’s journey. They echo through centuries, from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs to Picasso’s dove of peace. Their inclusion suggests a yearning for transcendence, an aspiration towards a harmonious existence. Chagall uses symbols to touch upon collective memories, drawing the viewer into a shared emotional landscape. It is the deep, subconscious recognition of these visual cues that evokes such a powerful response, engaging us in the timeless dance of human experience.