Marc Chagall (also rendered as Mark Chagall; Russian: Mark Shagal; Yiddish: Mark Shagal; French: Marc Chagall; July 6, 1887–March 28, 1985), born Moishe Zakharovich Shagal (Belarusian: Moisha Zakharavich Shagalaŭ; romanized: Moishe Zakharovich Shagal), was a renowned Russian-French artist of Belarusian Jewish descent. His work ranged across movements including Impressionism, Cubism, and Abstract Expressionism, and took forms including painting, drawing, stained glass, stage sets, and ceramics [1]. His paintings employ dreamlike, symbolic imagery and color; Apollinaire coined the term “Surrealism” to describe his work.

Chagall was born into a Jewish family, and early Jewish thought was a deeply rooted source of inspiration for him. His parents raised 10 children on a meager income, and the family was poor. The dark wooden houses, superstitious villagers, violin players, cows, sheep, chickens, and horses he saw as a child all became sources for his art. He left Russia in 1922 and settled near Paris. During World War II, he moved to the United States and began designing ballet sets and costumes. The animals, objects, and people in these paintings draw on his personal life, dreams, and Russian folklore.