Artwork
Vue de la fenêtre à Zaolchie, près de Vitebsk
Vue de la fenêtre à Zaolchie, près de Vitebsk is a gouache painting by the Cubism Synthetic artist Marc Chagall. It dates from 1915 and is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1915, this gouache work by Marc Chagall captures a quiet interior scene titled “Vue de la fenêtre à Zaolchie, près de Vitebsk.” The composition centers on a woman gazing outward through a six‑pane, black‑framed window, while modest objects rest on the sill. The painting is part of the Tretyakov Gallery’s collection in Moscow.
Subject & Meaning
The figure, dressed in a striped shirt, peers at a landscape of trees and grass beyond the window, suggesting a moment of contemplation or longing. A white cloth drapes the upper lintel, and the sill holds two red fruits and a brown jug, elements that hint at domestic routine and the subtle symbolism often found in Chagall’s early work.
Technique & Style
Executed in opaque gouache, the piece benefits from the medium’s capacity for vivid, flat color and precise detail. Chagall employs a restrained palette, allowing the reds of the fruit and the muted greens outside to stand out against the darker interior tones, creating a modest sense of depth without relying on linear perspective.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced during Chagall’s formative years in the Vitebsk region, a period marked by his exploration of folk motifs and personal memory. It entered the Tretyakov Gallery’s holdings in the mid‑20th century, where it remains on display as an example of the artist’s early gouache practice.
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…
