Roses et mimosas 1960

Marc Chagall made this painting, Roses et mimosas, with oils and gouache, and likely some crayons too. Looking at the surface, it's clear he was really going for it, layering colors to create a rich, almost dreamlike vision. The materiality of the paint itself is pretty evident, especially if you zoom in on one of those roses. The way the reds and pinks blend isn't perfectly smooth, which is nice, it feels like it happened organically. Then there are the little scribbles of crayon throughout the green foliage and blue background. I think this is what gives the whole composition a kind of vibrant, restless energy. You can imagine Chagall, just going at it, mixing mediums, not afraid to let each layer peek through. This reminds me a bit of Joan Miró’s playful use of color and form. Both artists share a love for blending abstraction with recognizable imagery. In the end, it’s about embracing the unexpected, and letting the painting lead you somewhere new.