1910

Resurrection of Lazarus

French (born Vitebsk, Russian Empire), 1887 - 1985

Chagall completed this work as an art student in Saint Petersburg, shortly before moving to Paris. Although the subject’s halo denotes his status as a Christian saint, Chagall reminds the viewer that the tale concerns a Jew by inscribing the interlocking triangles of the Star of David and hands held in the Jewish sign of priestly blessing as emblems on the tomb from which Lazarus has just risen. The religious scene is rendered with transparent washes of luminous color that reflect his studies with the celebrated stage designer Léon Bakst (born Lev Samoilovich Rosenberg), who was an important role model for the aspiring young painter.