The Artist's Wife

The Artist's Wife by Marc Chagall, executed in 1925, is a significant example of the artist's sensitive handling of the drypoint technique. Drypoint is an intaglio printmaking process where an image is incised directly into a copper plate, yielding a soft, velvety line quality derived from the burr of displaced metal. Chagall utilized this delicate medium to capture the likeness and spirit of his first wife, Bella Rosenfeld, who served as his most crucial subject and muse throughout his life.

This particular work was created during a critical phase in Chagall's career, shortly after his permanent return to Paris in 1923. Though born in Russia, Chagall established himself firmly within the French art movement of the period, synthesizing modernist trends with the deep emotionality and folk motifs of his heritage. This print, dating specifically to 1925, marks the refinement of a mature personal style, focusing less on the complex spatial arrangements found in his earlier works and more on intimate, expressive portraiture. The subtle line work in this piece contrasts sharply with the bold colors and dynamic movement of his contemporaneous paintings, underscoring the versatility of the artist across different media.

As a print, The Artist's Wife highlights the autobiographical themes central to Chagall’s output. He often employed the images of his family and domestic life as anchors against the fantastical elements in his larger compositions. Here, the intimate focus on Bella creates a poignant record of their relationship. The classification of the work as a print means that multiple impressions exist, contributing to the global circulation of Chagall’s imagery. Today, this masterwork is housed in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, where it attests to Chagall’s lasting importance as a master of modern European art.