Top Ten List

I am Marc Chagall by Bimba Landmann. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2006.

ISBN: 0802853056

In a first-person narrative loosely inspired by Chagall's autobiography, the author charts her subject's life from his childhood in a Russian shtetl through his 1941 emigration to the United States.

Media: Three dimensional mixed media.

5Q/5P

• Significant aspects of the books artwork Reflecting the style of Marc Chagall, the three-dimensional illustrations are constructed from the most eclectic assortment of materials that I have seen in a children’s book. Cardboard, fabric, sequins, weeds, and more–and set against vivid colors to create set designs, and vignettes of the artist's life. A series of shallow dioramas constructed of the materials listed above plus twigs, wire and fabric present events and translate verbal images in complex tableaux. The palette itself is straight from Chagall, each spread dominated by purples, reds, blues or greens. The artist Landmanns’ elaborate constructions underscore her subject's view of the fluid boundaries between the mystical and the mundane which is evident and the basic philosophy of Marc Chagall’s work.  She represents literal biographical scenes along with the artist's signature soaring farm animals or spiritual symbols
• use of personification through the text and/or through the illustrations.

At night the sky would echo with hymns, Shalom Aleikhem. Peace be unto you (Landman 2006). I am Marc Chagall by Bimba Landmann.

D. Guhl Summer 2009

Landmann, B. (2006). I am Marc Chagall. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. ISBN: 0802853056

4Q/3P

Chagall, portrayed as a blue-haired paper doll, had a passion for painting early in life and had to beg his mother to let him study art. Chagall’s life traversed many eras of social and political upheaval, which Landmann includes along with the other personal aspects of his life. The text is “loosely inspired” by Chagall’s autobiography, My Life.

Landmann presents dioramas of Marc Chagall’s life (the artist of flying beasts, people, and brilliant colors) utilizing a variety of mediums including paint, wood, and fabrics.

Although loosely based on Chagall’s autobiography, Landmann’s interpretation can inspire students to research and learn more about Chagall’s life and works. Alternatively, the book is also a good example of an art project for students, using elements like dioramas, painting, and collages of mixed media.  Like Landmann’s creations, students can learn to connect visual symbols, metaphors, and other elements into their compositions.

Artwork Discussion

Landmann presents dioramas of Marc Chagall’s life (the artist of flying beasts, people, and brilliant colors) utilizing a variety of mediums including paint, wood, metals, and fabrics. Chagall, portrayed as a blue-haired, frazzled paper doll, had a passion for painting early in life and had to beg his mother to let him study art. Landmann uses many of the deep rich colors found in Chagall’s paintings, like cobalt blue and pure red to accent her three-dimensional pictures of his life and work.  Paying homage to Chagall’s unique artistic style, her compositions include structures slightly off-kilter, goats, and people flying near the heavens.

Chagall’s life traversed many eras of social and political upheavals, in which Landmann’s scenes employ heavy usage of black and indigo that reflect the bleakness of a future weighed down by revolution and war. For example, when Chagall is leaving Germany in 1914, after an exhibit, his train passes a soldier beneath a black ominous sky that foreshadows the first World War.  In another example, as Chagall emigrates to America during the second World War, his metal ship is full of doll people dressed in black with serious, joyless faces.  Traveling under an indigo sky scattered with gold sequin stars, the future of all is uncertain as they leave their beloved homelands behind and face a new world that may give opportunities or disappointment. Landmann ends her tribute there, following it with a timeline where one learns that shortly after his arrival, Chagall’s beloved wife dies and he doesn’t paint for a year. However, eventually, he returns to a pace of artistic creations with stained glass as well as painting until the end of his life. TK 4/29/08

TK 4/29/08