The Judaic heritage: A key to understanding the works of Marc Chagall and Chaim Soutine

The paintings created by Marc Chagall and Chaim Soutine cannot be fully understood without placing them in the context of their Judaic heritage. In the past, art historians have focused on the formal qualities of their art, and not the context in which they were created, thereby overlooking the foundation of their art. Both painters recreated Judaic rituals and laws through their art. Chagall portrayed his heritage lovingly, and created whimsical paintings of Judaic traditions. Soutine rebelled against his heritage, and chose to paint subjects that were strictly forbidden by Mosaic laws. By studying the biographies of both artists, analyzing the symbolism in over one hundred paintings, and relating these works to specific periods in the artists' lives, the author found their art to be imbued with Judaic symbolism. Therefore, the content of their work relied heavily on Judaic culture, and cannot be understood without some knowledge of their heritage.