1. Marc Chagall Dreamscape
5th Grade Art Project
Northwood Elementary Art Enrichment Program

2. Marc Chagall Known for being a pioneer of Modernism
His works became an inspiration to the movement of Surrealism
Often his paintings are dreamlike, with a young man who resembles Chagall as one of the people represented in the painting.
Marc Chagall (Shə- GAHL) Born July 7, 1887 in Russian Empire (now Belarus); died March28, 1985 in France, age 97. See Chagall’s biography on Wikipedia at:
Chagall is known for being a pioneer of modernism and a major Jewish artist. Chagall’s unique style is a synthesis of Cubism, Symbolism, and Fauvism with added elements of fantasy. His works became an inspiration to the movement of Surrealism, although Chagall himself did not claim to be a part of the Surrealist movement.
Fauvism – an art movement where painters used bold, jarring color in wild, brushstrokes. Subjects depicted in an abstract manner. (Artist of note: Henri Matisse)
Cubism – an art movement pioneered by Picasso, Braque and others. Objects are broken up, analyzed, and re-assembled in an abstracted form—instead of depicting objects from one viewpoint, the artist depicts the subject from a multitude of viewpoints to represent the subject in a greater context.
Surrealism – a movement in art and literature that explored the unconscious mind and the dream world as a source for artistic creations. (Sigmund Freud’s ideas influenced this movement) Surrealist painters of note: Dali, Miro, Magritte.
Chagall’s paintings are based on his life in his home village, Jewish folktales and theater scenes painted with bright colors. Often his paintings are dreamlike, with a young man who resembles Chagall as one of the people represented in the painting.
Summary of Chagall paintings characteristics and trademarks:
Arbitrary color (faces green, unnaturally colored animals, Fauvism influence)
Bright Color (Fauvism influence)
Dreamlike qualities
Scenes, memories of his childhood and home village

3. Self Portrait with Brushes 1909-10

4. Self Portrait

5. I and the Village,

6. The Green Donkey, 1911

7. The Spoonful of Milk, 1912

8. The Green Violinist,

9. Paris Through the Window, 1913

10. Self-Portrait with Seven Fingers, 1913

11. The Blue House, 1917

12. Peasant Life, 1925

13. The Falling Angel,

14. Stained Glass, United Nations, NYC, 1964 Memorial to UN Secretary General Contains symbols of peace, love, and music

15. Stained Glass, United Nations, NYC (close-up)

16. The Blue Violinist

17. Self Portrait

18. Ideas to think about
After looking at these samples of Chagall’s work, what are some of the common characteristics you observe among the different works?
Chagall paintings characteristics and trademarks:
Arbitrary color (faces green, unnaturally colored animals, Fauvism influence)
Bright Color (Fauvism influence)
Dreamlike qualities
Scenes, memories of his childhood and home village
At the 5th grade level most students have had many art docent lessons. It is suggested that you show a number of examples of Chagall’s work and then ask the students for comments on what common characteristics they discover among the different works. After the students have discovered some of the common characteristics on their own, then the art docent can provide more specifics and details about the trademarks of Chagall’s style.
Summary of Chagall paintings characteristics and trademarks
Arbitrary color (faces green, unnaturally colored animals, Fauvism influence)
Bright Color (Fauvism influence)
Dreamlike qualities
Scenes, memories of his childhood and home village

19. Today’s Project
With a light pencil, draw an X on a piece of watercolor paper.
In one triangle draw a silhouette of a person
In the opposite triangle draw a silhouette of an animal.
Fill the 2 other triangles with imagery that the you might be thinking about and imagery that the animal might be thinking about such as a house or barn.
Turn your paper and draw yourself holding something you like.
Turn your paper again and abstract items such as trees, flowers, a sun or moon.
Erase the pencil X
Color your illustration with intense color with oil pastel.
Go over your picture with watercolor, using one or two colors to tie the imagery together.
Use the “I and My Village” piece as a point of reference and have the kids create an X on a piece of watercolor paper. In one triangle they will draw a silouette of a person and in the opposite triangle they will draw a siloutte of an animal. Then in the 2 other triangles they will fill imagery that the person might be thinking about and imagery that the animal might be thinking about.

20. Ideas to think about as you create
Often there are abstract subjects and also realist items. The combination of these subjects make the painting seem dreamlike.
Chagall’s paintings have been said to “lack gravity” as objects often seem to float.
By turning the paper it will seem to “float” and give more of a random dreamlike quality to the picture.
At the 5th grade level most students have had many art docent lessons. It is suggested that you show a number of examples of Chagall’s work and then ask the students for comments on what common characteristics they discover among the different works. After the students have discovered some of the common characteristics on their own, then the art docent can provide more specifics and details about the trademarks of Chagall’s style.