The Miller, His Son, and the Ass 1927 - 1930

Marc Chagall, a Russian-French artist with Jewish heritage, created this etching, “The Miller, His Son, and the Ass.” It illustrates a fable by Jean de La Fontaine, reflecting on the pitfalls of trying to please everyone. Born in Vitebsk, now Belarus, Chagall’s work often revisits his roots and identity. The dark and brooding illustration suggests an era marked by shifting social expectations. A man and his son are depicted carrying their donkey, a decision met by the judgemental gaze of onlookers. This reflects Chagall's personal experience as a Jew navigating identity and belonging in a world that often imposed its own narratives onto him. The image explores the tension between personal autonomy and societal pressures. Chagall once said, "If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing.” Perhaps this work reminds us that authenticity can be more valuable than conformity, and that listening to outside voices can lead to the loss of one’s own path.