The Mimosas 1968

Marc Chagall made The Mimosas as a print, and you can really see the artist's hand at work, making it special. I’m really drawn to the way Chagall approaches mark-making here, it’s a jumble of lines, that come together to form a vase overflowing with Mimosas. The color palette is pretty restrained, mostly greens, yellows and blacks, but that makes those little pops of color all the more vibrant. It's like he's saying, "Here's the world, but let's dial up the joy a notch." Look at how the dark, scratchy lines that define the vase contrast with the delicate, feathery strokes that make up the flowers. There's a push-pull between control and spontaneity that makes the whole thing feel alive. It reminds me a little of Matisse, who, like Chagall, used simple forms and bright colors to create worlds that feel both familiar and totally dreamlike.