Man Seated with Goat 1922 - 1923

Marc Chagall made this lithograph called "Man Seated with Goat" using ink on paper. The simplified style is typical of Chagall, recalling his interest in the visual culture of his native Eastern Europe. The man's beret speaks to the influence of Parisian styles. Chagall moved to Paris in 1911, immersing himself in the avant-garde art scene. The goat is a recurring motif for Chagall, drawing on Jewish folklore and its symbolic association with sacrifice and redemption. Here, the goat appears as a symbol of the old country, held close by a Jewish intellectual now living in the modern diaspora. Chagall was a product of the cultural ferment of early 20th-century Europe, shaped by the collision of tradition and modernity. Understanding the cultural history and religious roots of Eastern European Jewish communities gives us deeper insight into his visual language. By looking closely at the interaction of folk traditions, religious symbolism, and modern aesthetics in Chagall’s work, we get a glimpse into a world undergoing profound social and cultural change.