The artwork titled “The Creation of Man,” created by Marc Chagall circa 1958 in France, is a pencil on paper sketch that falls within the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. Measuring 52 x 35.5 cm, this work serves as a study, reflecting the artist’s preliminary ideas in sketch form.
The artwork exhibits a series of loosely drawn, fluid sketches predominantly consisting of what appear to be figures and possibly floral or organic forms. The central part of the sketch features a large spiral shape, which might suggest movement or perhaps symbolize creation itself. Around this central motif are a number of smaller sketches, seemingly representing human figures with oversized heads and simplified features, indicative of the Naïve Art style that is characterized by a childlike simplicity and candidness. The figures are rendered with minimal detail, capturing the essence of their forms rather than providing a detailed anatomical study.
The purity of line and emergent shapes indicate that Chagall was perhaps exploring concepts, composition, or the interaction of figures within the space of the artwork. The simplicity of the medium—pencil on paper—allows for spontaneity and expressiveness, consistent with the Naïve Art aesthetic to which Chagall’s work often related. Despite the work’s simplicity, it carries the artist’s signature whimsical and dream-like qualities, inviting viewers to interpret the forms and potential narratives within this preliminary piece.
