The Stag Viewing Himself in the Stream 1927 - 1930

Marc Chagall's "The Stag Viewing Himself in the Stream" is a print, where the controlled chaos of line becomes a form of light. The surface is a universe of tiny marks and scratches, like looking closely at a rough stone wall, each imperfection adding to the overall beauty. The lines are at once restless and precise, reflecting the animal's form in both stream and solid. It’s interesting how Chagall uses the texture to create a feeling of depth. If you look closer at the stags antlers, the dark ink makes the lines jump forward, while the light etching of the stream pulls it back. This piece isn’t just about seeing; it’s about feeling the space around the stag, sensing the coolness of the water, the density of the forest. This reminds me of Picasso's etchings - the way the line is used to describe form, but also to evoke a whole world of emotion. It's a reminder that art isn't just about what you see, but about what you feel and imagine.