Birth (Geburt) from My Life (Mein Leben) by Marc Chagall, executed in 1922 and published in 1923, is a deeply personal etching commissioned for the artist’s autobiography. Classified as an Illustrated Book due to its role within the Mein Leben portfolio, this work demonstrates Chagall’s commitment to self-reflection and literary collaboration during his definitive move toward the French cultural sphere. The technique utilized is etching, derived from a suite of twenty prints, of which fifteen were augmented with drypoint, showcasing the artist's mastery of refined intaglio processes.
The subject of Birth (Geburt) focuses on a primal, foundational memory, rendered through the distinct visual language that defines Chagall’s oeuvre. Reflecting the nature of the accompanying memoir, the print employs the fragmented and dream-like visual motifs associated with his early Surrealist and Expressionist tendencies. Chagall utilizes the etching medium to achieve both stark visual contrasts and intimate textual detail, fitting the retrospective and often melancholic mood of the narrative. The precise clarity of the lines and the careful application of cross-hatching distinguish this particular print within his output from the early 1920s.
Created while the artist was re-establishing his professional reputation in the French art world, this work bridges the stylistic influences of his Russian heritage with the Modernist movements he engaged with after settling in Paris. The execution date of 1922, published in 1923, places this series immediately preceding a significant period of international travel and development for the artist. As a foundational example of 20th-century artistic autobiography and printmaking, this specific impression resides in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), ensuring its scholarly availability. The accessibility of multiple original prints from this important illustrated series helps define how the history of art, particularly works of this period, enters the public sphere.
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