On the Stove (Sur le poêle)

On the Stove (Sur le poêle) by Marc Chagall is a significant example of early 20th-century graphic arts, executed as a lithograph in 1922. This piece dates from the period 1922-23, following the artist’s return to Paris from Russia, placing it firmly within the context of the French artistic milieu. This time was crucial for Chagall, who was synthesizing the formal lessons of Parisian modernism with the visual vocabulary of memory, fantasy, and folklore that characterized his most personal work.

As a visual artist who embraced multiple media, Chagall expertly utilized the stone-based technique of lithography to create this print. This process allowed him to achieve rich tonal variations and expressive, fluid lines, features often associated with the most successful graphic works of the era. The domestic subject implied by the title, On the Stove, likely incorporates the floating figures, animals, and distorted perspectives characteristic of Chagall's pictorial narratives. During the 1920s, the artist often focused on themes of daily life infused with dreamlike symbolism, drawing frequently upon his past in Vitebsk while residing abroad in France.

This category of graphic work, classified as a print, highlights the enduring value of modern editions produced by master artists. The medium of lithography was particularly favored by avant-garde painters seeking wider dissemination for their images than single canvases permitted. Today, the original work resides in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Researchers studying the transition of modern art between the world wars frequently consult reference materials concerning the period 1922-23, documenting how artists like Chagall maintained unique personal styles while contributing to the diverse landscape of French modernism.