MARC CHAGALL: THE BIRTHDAY
The Birthday (1915) by Marc Chagall is an iconic dream-like oil that serves as a visual love letter to his wife Bella Rosenfeld. Painted just weeks before their wedding, when Bella was just 19 or 20 years young, it captures the euphoric feeling of young love where gravity and reality seemingly cease to exist.Upon analysis the painting reveals many unusual features. For example, run your eyes up the red-carpet line underneath the table on the left and you will notice that it does not join onto the horizontal carpet-line at which point there should be a wall corner. The corner wall is missing. Further along the horizontal carpet-line, between Bella and the bed, the carpet line is now curving. Observe the blue wall-hanging just above Chagall’s legs and below the window. If you run your eyes along the bottom-edge of the wall-hanging and the left-side of the wall-hanging, the blue wall-hanging should appear under Chagall’s bottom: but it doesn’t. Also, Chagall was very observant: while not immediately visible in the painting above, there is seen through the window at the top, a bird flying. Also, is there a leg missing from the stool.
- The Weightless Embrace: The artist depicts himself and Bella floating mid-air inside a small, domestic room. Chagall is contorted in an exaggerated, gravity-defying arch, floating above Bella to plant a passionate kiss.
- The Muse: Bella is dressed in a simple black dress, gracefully tilting forward with a vibrant bouquet of flowers in her hands.
- The Setting: The room features a brilliant, bold red floor and white walls, creating a striking contrast. The modest furniture (such as a bed or dresser) highlights a simple, provincial life elevated by pure emotion.
- Defying Physics: The floating figures represent how love lifts individuals above the mundane, ordinary world. The kiss is depicted not just as an action, but as a blissful union of spirit and body.
- Autobiographical: According to Chagall’s memoirs, the idea came to him when Bella visited his studio on his birthday, filling the room with flowers and joy. She titled the piece Happy Birthday after seeing how he translated this exact moment onto the canvas.
You can purchase this original painted copy of the artwork for your home or office an investment of AUD$6800 that will have the artwork on your walls within 12 weeks of placing your order. Place your order here: message me
Alternatively, if you reside in Victoria Australia, we can make arrangements for you to visit my studio in Williamstown to view and to purchase the artwork.