We do know that he was staying in an area of the city that was filled with fellow creatives, including the likes of Fernand Leger and Amedeo Modigliani. Whilst living here Chagall took in a wide variety of influences and must have loved the atmosphere of creativity and experimentation. Many residents here would work collaboratively, as well as encouraging each other to continue with their instincts of working in a contemporary manner. At this time many of the movements that we now take for granted were very much in their infancy during this era, and Chagall was able to draw in a good variety of different ideas as he forged his own unique style that combined different methods together.
Within Birth we will find some early examples of where the artist's career was heading. The combination of dark and light tones will remind some of Egon Schiele, where as the movement most related to this work would probably be expressionism. Perspective is also amended from the principles taught in previous centuries as we look across this open room. A good number of figures are placed around the composition, as well as various features found in this room.
This painting can be found at the Art Institute of Chicago, USA. It is pleasing to find this piece here, as many of his earlier works are now within private collections and so rarely accessible to the general public. A visit to this excellent institution in Chicago will also give you the opportunity to discover a whole host of other exciting artworks and antiquities, which come from a huge array of different cultures and civilisations. They host a good number of Monet waterlily paintings, which will attract many of the more occasional art followers, but also some other highlights such as Paris Street, Rainy Day by Gustave Caillebotte, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat and also Nighthawks by Edward Hopper.
