The Yellow Sun 1968

This image, The Yellow Sun, was made by Marc Chagall in 1969, and from what I can see, it's made with a mixed media, maybe lithography and ink. The color palette is pretty muted overall, except for this burst of, well, yellow sun. What strikes me is how Chagall lays down these thin washes of color, almost like he's sketching with the paint. The texture is smooth, the surface relatively untouched. The marks seem casual, like he's just letting his hand wander across the paper. Look at the way he's rendered that sun – it's almost childlike, but also, it vibrates with a sense of energy. This sun, this radiant, almost absurdly bright spot, it anchors the whole image. It's like he's saying, "Even in the midst of all this dreaminess, there's this one constant source of light and warmth." It reminds me a little bit of Joan Miró, how he creates these playful, symbolic worlds, full of joy and wonder. It's art that doesn't take itself too seriously, but that's where the magic lies, right?