Lovers on the Bench (Liebende auf der Bank) from My Life (Mein Leben)

Lovers on the Bench (Liebende auf der Bank) from My Life (Mein Leben) by Marc Chagall is an evocative etching created in 1922 and subsequently published in 1923. This intimate image is part of a portfolio comprising twenty original illustrations intended to accompany the artist’s autobiography, Mein Leben (My Life), placing the work squarely within the classification of an Illustrated Book. Utilizing the graphic arts medium, Chagall visualized formative experiences from his early life, employing the meticulous process of etching, supplemented by drypoint on fifteen of the plates, to achieve deep, rich blacks and varied tonal effects. The production of these visual memoirs marks a significant moment as the Russian-Jewish artist navigated the complex cultural currents of Europe while actively participating in the burgeoning French artistic landscape.

Consistent with Chagall’s characteristic dreamlike synthesis of memory and emotion, the print depicts a poignant scene of two figures embraced on a bench. The composition captures the weightless, floating quality often associated with the artist’s depictions of romance, undoubtedly featuring himself and his muse, Bella Rosenfeld, who is central to the narrative of My Life. The dense cross-hatching required by the etching technique imparts a stark, almost raw intensity to the shadows and contours, allowing the work to function both as an illustration and a powerful standalone graphic image conveying the depth of autobiographical reflection.

The entire portfolio was initiated in 1922, reflecting the artist’s introspection and desire to catalog his history through visual narrative. The suite of Lovers on the Bench ultimately reflects his ability to bridge his Eastern European heritage with the avant-garde aesthetic he developed within the French environment. This particular impression of the work resides in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), recognized for its extensive holdings in modern graphic arts. The enduring nature of these prints ensures that the graphic art created during the crucial period of 1922, published 1923, remains accessible for scholarly review and public appreciation.