Au-dessus de Vitebsk c. 1923

Here we see a work by Marc Chagall, titled "Au-dessus de Vitebsk". Its composition and color palette immediately evoke a dreamlike atmosphere. The predominant cool blues and whites of the winter landscape contrast with the warmer tones of the buildings. The floating figure dominates the scene, defying gravity and conventional perspective. The scale is intentionally distorted; the figure looms over the town, creating a sense of unease and displacement. This manipulation of space and form prompts us to consider the semiotic implications of Chagall’s choices. The village becomes a symbol of memory, community, and perhaps exile. The artist’s structural arrangement, where elements are deliberately disjointed, suggests a world where traditional meanings are destabilized. This is not just a depiction of a place but a meditation on the nature of belonging, and the elusive character of memory itself.