Pendule fantastique 1955

This whimsical ink and watercolor by Marc Chagall, called Pendule fantastique, is from 1958. Look at the way he's layered line and color here; the black ink has a real graphic punch, but then he comes in with these dreamy washes of blue, pink and brown, which gives the whole thing a kind of floating quality. It feels like a dream, doesn’t it? I love how immediate it feels, like he’s just letting his imagination run wild right on the page. See that clock face hovering in the center? The hands are frozen, and the numbers are all jumbled up. It's as if time is not behaving itself. I mean, what time is it? The colors are not mixed, but used to define areas and shapes. You can really see his hand in the whole thing; it's loose, playful, and full of joy. It makes me think of Joan Miró, another artist who wasn't afraid to let his imagination take over. With Chagall, just like Miro, it's like the artwork is a conversation with himself and with us too!