The Tortoise and the Two Ducks 1927 - 1930

Marc Chagall made this print, "The Tortoise and the Two Ducks," using etching, a process that feels as immediate as drawing. The lines and dots swarm to create a texture, a surface that vibrates with the energy of the artist's hand. Look at the way the ducks aren't just depicted but really built up from these marks. See how the dots and dashes cluster to suggest form and shadow, making these birds so alive. The ink isn't just on the surface, it feels embedded, part of the paper itself. It’s like he’s not just showing us ducks, he’s showing us the very act of seeing them. Chagall’s work always feels like it’s on the edge of a dream. This print shares some of that sensibility through its focus on the physical process of artmaking. Like Paul Klee, he lets the medium speak. There’s a conversation happening here, a back-and-forth between intention and accident.