The Two Mules 1927 - 1930

Marc Chagall created this untitled etching, known as "The Two Mules," using delicate lines and varying depths of tone. The composition balances the rough textures of the animals with a clear night sky. The monochromatic palette focuses our attention on the details of the lines and forms. Chagall destabilizes conventional representation through the exaggerated forms of the mules and the human figure. The semiotic system at play here uses familiar images—animals, a man, a moon—yet arranges them in ways that disrupt our expectations. This challenges a fixed narrative, inviting us to contemplate the relationships between labor, nature, and human presence. The etching technique itself emphasizes process and material, drawing attention to the layered marks on the plate. This materiality is not merely a backdrop, but integral to how meaning is generated, reflecting a broader modernist interest in disrupting traditional hierarchies of representation.