Marc Chagall ― Love and Longing Expressed Through Diverse Techniques

Galerie Tamenaga Osaka is pleased to present an exhibition of works by the 20th-century master Marc Chagall, titled “Marc Chagall — Love and Nostalgia Woven Through a Diversity of Techniques”, on view from March 7 (Sat) to April 5 (Sun), 2026.

Marc Chagall (1887–1985) was born in 1887 in Vitebsk, then part of the Russian Empire (now Belarus), as the eldest of nine children in a Jewish family. From an early age, he was deeply immersed in religious and folk traditions, cultivating a keen sensitivity to mysticism and symbolism. Growing up in a large family filled with affection had a profound influence on his artistic expression. In his youth, Chagall studied art in Saint Petersburg, and in 1910, at the age of 23, he moved to Paris, the center of the art world. While sharing the same era with artists such as Picasso and Matisse, he pursued a distinctive style rooted in his Jewish identity. During World War II, he fled Nazi persecution and went into exile in the United States. After the war, despite being shaped by the turbulence of history, he relocated his base to the south of France, where he continued to expand the scope of his artistic expression beyond painting to include stained glass, ceramics, and stage design.

Chagall’s works depict love—encompassing both the joys and sorrows of life—within a fantastical world where dreams and reality intertwine. Recurring motifs include lovers floating through the sky, scenes from his native homeland, Jewish traditions, animals, and musicians. In order to express his unique worldview, Chagall experimented with a wide variety of materials throughout his life. Making full use of the characteristics of diverse supports such as canvas, paper, and board, he skillfully combined oil, watercolor, gouache, ink, sumi, and pastel. Often referred to as a “magician of color,” Chagall is widely known for his richly colored imagery; however, he also produced a significant number of monochrome works. Influenced by Japonisme, which emerged in late 19th-century Paris through the introduction of ukiyo-e, he created works on Japanese paper that make use of subtle gradations of ink, as well as monochrome book illustrations and prints.

The dreamlike imagery and poetic expression found in Chagall’s art continue to captivate audiences around the world to this day.

This exhibition brings together approximately 25 works that explore Chagall’s recurring themes of mysticism, dreams, longing, hope, and compassion.

We sincerely hope you will take this opportunity to experience and enjoy this exceptional exhibition.