Marc Chagall

was born as Movsha Shagal in a part of the Empire of Russia, later Belarus-Russia. His work is often associated with surrealism. But actually, his work falls under different movements, although it is not entirely part of anything. Chagall has his own style that is dreamy. He drew his inspiration from Russian folk art and folk life, his memories of his youth and the role of Judaism in this. He combined elements of this with, among other things, the modern styles he knew from Paris. His work shows traces of expressionism, cubism and fauvism. He also depicted Bible scenes with great regularity. His childhood is a recurring theme in his work. The rabbis, goats and musicians who figure in his paintings have their origins there. Chagall's work is very exuberant in colour. Picasso once said of him as 'the only artist who still knows what colour is'.