The Heron 1927 - 1930

Marc Chagall made this etching of a heron sometime in the 20th century, and you can see how he embraced the beauty of simple marks. The whole image feels like it's built from a network of tiny scratches. Up close, you notice how the texture isn’t just about depicting something; it’s alive in itself. Look at the way he renders the water, a flurry of nervous lines that gives a sense of shimmering movement. Then check out the heron itself, solid and still, its dark feathers created with dense, overlapping marks, so different from the fluidity surrounding it. This contrast creates a visual tension, and the eye bounces between the stillness of the bird and the restless energy of the water. Chagall’s work always reminds me of Miró, that same playful exploration of line and form, a world where things aren't quite as they seem and imagination rules the day. Art isn’t about fixed meanings, it's about possibilities.