Today we’ll talk about the painting “White Crucifix”. Marc Chagall is the author of this painting. The painting was created by the artist in 1938. It happened two weeks after Kristallnacht. At that time, the artist was visiting Europe. You can see the canvas in the walls of the Chicago Institute of Arts. This work was sold to this institution by the architect Alfred Alschuler.
History
“The White Crucifix” is a painting that was created by the artist under the impression of the persecution of Jews that took place in Eastern and Central Europe. The canvas does not reflect the actual scene, but shows an allegory for the events. It uses many special drawings and symbols. Being of Jewish origin, the artist created a large gallery of works depicting a crucifix. The image of Jesus on the cross is a new symbol for Chagall. He invested in it the content of all Jewry, which was undergoing mortal torment. Crucifixes in the artist’s canvases became his response to the brutal actions of the Nazis. He personally suffered from them in 1933. Then almost all of his canvases were destroyed. The work “The White Crucifix” is a premonition of the Holocaust. The canvas “Guernica” by Pablo Picasso, who was a contemporary of our hero, is saturated with a similar mood.
Description
The “white crucifix” is a canvas that emphasizes the suffering not only of Jesus, but also of the Jews. On the sides are visible numerous violent acts. Among them stand out the burning of houses and synagogues, as well as the capture of Jews. The crucifixion of Jesus is shown in the center. He is dressed in a shroud and thales, which replaces the
crown of thorns. All this is a symbol of the fact that he is a Jew. The figure of Jesus on the crucifix is depicted on a background that is ivory. The image extends over the whole world, which is constantly undergoing destruction. A special seven-candle lamp burns at his feet.
The upper part of the painting “White Crucifixion” shows the audience the Old Testament characters crying, watching what is happening below. The foreground shows a green figure with a bag behind it. This element appears in a number of works by Chagall. He is interpreted as the prophet Elijah or any Jewish traveler. A boat is visible in the center of the composition. She is associated with the hope that the Nazis will be able to escape. The upper right part of the picture shows the flag of Lithuania. At that time, it was an independent state. The upper left part of the picture shows the flags of communism. This element can be considered a symbol that the persecution of Jews is not only a Nazi phenomenon. The author says that anti-Semitism was also observed in the communist countries.
Rating
"White Crucifixion" is considered one of the best works of the artist. In this work, Chagall’s continuous thoughts about events that take place in the world around him were fully embodied. The artist’s thoughts are incredibly tragic. The tones of the Apocalypse here became the main ones. The picture is not a reflection of the plot of the Gospel, it demonstrates the modernity of the author.