Patrick Bade
Marc Chagall 1887-1985, An Extraordinary Life
Summary
The lecture delves into the life of Marc Chagall (1887-1985), emphasizing his formative years until 1922. Chagall’s Jewish upbringing profoundly influenced his artistic journey, coinciding with a pivotal era of Jewish assimilation in Europe. Returning to Russia during World War I, Chagall entered a period of artistic maturity, crafting iconic works blending observation and imagination. Despite challenges, including interactions with figures like Picasso and Walden, Chagall’s art resonated with joy, nostalgia, and a deep cultural connection, establishing him as a luminary in modern art.
Patrick Bade
Patrick Bade is a historian, writer, and broadcaster. He studied at UCL and the Courtauld Institute of Art. He was a senior lecturer at Christie’s Education for many years and has worked for the Art Fund, Royal Opera House, National Gallery, and V&A. He has published on 19th- and early 20th-century paintings and historical vocal recordings. His latest book is Music Wars: 1937–1945.
Sonia Delaunay, Modigliani, Soutine. Those are the most important ones. But of course there are many, many more.
I don’t think you need a philosophical reason. You could have a Freudian reason. I’m sure you’ve all had dreams of flying and for most people flying in a dream is a wonderful sense of liberation.
He worked for churches and I think he was somebody who felt the relationship of Christianity and Judaism. Considering the Catholic Church’s horrible record on persecution of Jews, I find it a good thing. After all, the Christians theoretically believe in the Jewish Bible.