Artwork
Snow, Winter in Vitebsk
Snow, Winter in Vitebsk is an unspecified painting by the Naïve art artist Marc Chagall. It dates from 1911 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject matter remains grounded in the literal representation of the town's snowy landscape and its inhabitants.
Executed in 1911, this painting by Marc Chagall depicts a winter scene situated in Vitebsk. The composition features architectural elements alongside human figures, all enveloped in snow. While the work visually captures the atmospheric conditions of a Russian winter, the available records do not provide specific details regarding deeper iconographic symbolism or the artist's intended philosophical meaning behind these depicted elements. The subject matter remains grounded in the literal representation of the town's snowy landscape and its inhabitants.
Technique & Style
Snow, Winter in Vitebsk is an oil painting executed by Marc Chagall in 1911. The work is created on a support measuring approximately 47.9 centimeters in height and 60.3 centimeters in width. As a painting classified within the artist's early oeuvre, it depicts a winter scene characterized by the presence of snow, architectural forms, and human figures.
The formal qualities of the piece reflect Chagall's handling of the medium to capture a specific atmospheric setting in Vitebsk. The composition integrates these depicted elements to convey a distinct seasonal mood, utilizing the paint's physical properties to render the cold, snowy environment and the surrounding structures with a focus on the interplay between the built environment and the natural winter landscape.
History & Provenance
Marc Chagall painted Snow, Winter in Vitebsk in 1911, as recorded in the work’s catalog entry (date: 1911) and confirmed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s documentation (inception: 1911‑01‑01). The painting measures 47.9 cm by 60.3 cm and is part of the museum’s collection, listed under the title Snow, Winter in Vitebsk (collection: Metropolitan Museum of Art, location: Metropolitan Museum of Art). No evidence of prior commissions or ownership transfers beyond its acquisition by the museum is documented in the sources.
Marc Chagall's 1911 painting Snow, Winter in Vitebsk is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The artwork, which measures 47.9 by 60.3 centimeters and depicts winter scenery, architecture, and a human figure, has been part of the museum's holdings. However, specific inventory or accession numbers, as well as a detailed exhibition history, are not provided in the available sources.
Overview
Marc Chagall's painting, Snow, Winter in Vitebsk, completed in 1911, captures a wintry scene from his hometown. This work is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering a glimpse into the artist's early engagement with themes of memory and place. It reflects the distinctive visual language he began to develop during this period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marc Chagall was a Russian and French artist of Jewish ancestry. An early modernist, he was associated with the École de Paris, as well as several major artistic styles and created works in a wide range of artistic…
