“Song of Songs I,” created by Marc Chagall in 1960 in France, is an oil painting on canvas measuring 33.5 x 40 cm. The artwork belongs to the Surrealism art movement and is part of the “Song of Songs” series, classified as a religious painting.
The artwork embodies Chagall’s distinct surrealist style, featuring a rich and vibrant palette predominantly in deep reds and burgundies. Amidst this chromatic background, the painting depicts a symbolic and dreamlike scene. A figure can be seen playing an instrument, possibly a lyre or a similar stringed instrument, seemingly intertwined with the natural and fantastical elements surrounding him. Two vividly colored animals, one yellow and the other blue, stand prominently in the central part of the composition, indicating a harmonious interaction with their environment. These elements, framed by a complex, textured array of foliage, evoke a spiritual and lyrical narrative, reflective of the themes found in the biblical Song of Songs. The artwork’s imagery collectively creates a mystical and poetic atmosphere, characteristic of Chagall’s interpretations of religious and mythological themes.
