Le nu au cirque 1980

Marc Chagall made "Le nu au cirque" with what looks like gouache or watercolor, using thin washes and lively, scratchy lines. It's like he's making a joyful memory right in front of us. The colors are dreamy and floating, aren't they? Transparent layers let the light through, but it’s the dark, confident lines that keep everything from drifting away. Look at the naked figure, how it's made up of these pale washes and the way Chagall draws these shapes, like triangles or diamonds, all over the body. It feels so intimate and light, like he's showing us how he sees the world, not how it really is. There's a world of emotion packed in here. Chagall reminds me a little of Arthur Dove, both artists were tapping into some inner vision, making colors and lines sing with personal meaning. To me, his paintings are about keeping the conversation going, mixing feelings and dreams with a wink and a nod.