The Tale of the Ebony Horse 1945 - 1946

Marc Chagall created 'The Tale of the Ebony Horse' with lithography, a printmaking process that embraces the texture of the stone. Lithography involves drawing on a flat stone with a greasy crayon, then treating the stone so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. This printmaking technique mirrors the artist's hand. The resulting images have a soft, almost dreamlike quality. Here, the vivid colors are a reminder of the pigments used and add an emotional layer to the image. The figures, horses, and floating motifs speak of the importance of storytelling. Chagall wasn’t interested in the slick perfection associated with industrial production. Instead, he celebrated the directness of handcraft. The lithographic process is an intimate dance between artist, material, and narrative. It reminds us that art is not just about the final image but also the human touch embedded in its making.