Goat with a Violin Possibly 1922 - 1950

This is Marc Chagall's "Goat with a Violin," a block print where the stark contrast and raw, pared-down imagery really sings. Chagall isn't just depicting a goat with a violin; he's constructing a world where such a thing is perfectly normal. The thick lines and graphic quality give the piece an almost dreamlike presence. I love the way the white gashes across the goat's body; they aren't just marks but alive, making the animal pulsate with energy. The cuts into the block look confident, direct - each line has a purpose, which is so important to the printmaking process. Chagall reminds me of Picasso; both were deeply rooted in Modernism but had a folksy, fairytale sensibility too. There is so much to be discovered in this print, and the joy lies in the possibility of these multiple interpretations.