Die Zauberflote;Metropolitan Opera 1966

Marc Chagall created this poster for The Magic Flute opera using gouache and ink. Here we see a winged figure playing a flute, and the image is populated with animals—a snake, a goat, birds, and what appears to be a lion. The flute is of great importance here. We see it not just as a musical instrument but as a symbol of transformation, such as we may find with Orpheus, whose lyre could charm beasts and move stones. Observe how Chagall populates the scene with animals, evoking a sense of harmony between nature and music, connecting it to ancient myths. But what about the serpent? It's the ambivalent symbol of evil and healing, death and rebirth, which speaks to the transformative nature of the opera. Notice how the serpent appears to be listening, enraptured by the flute's music, suggesting the subconscious impact of art on the soul. Chagall presents us with a dreamscape, engaging our collective memories and subconscious associations, reminding us that art is not just seen, but felt.