The Two Goats

The Two Goats by Marc Chagall, executed in 1927, is a compelling example of the artist's mastery of graphic media. Classified as a print, this particular work utilizes the demanding technique of etching, allowing for the precise, delicate lines characteristic of Chagall’s figurative style during the late 1920s. As a French cultural figure operating within the School of Paris, Chagall continually infused his modernist compositions with the symbolic power of traditional Eastern European themes.

The subject matter, featuring two goats often paired with other floating or distorted figures, draws upon the deep well of folklore, religious history, and autobiographical narratives that permeated the artist’s worldview. Though established in the Parisian art world, Chagall frequently channeled the mythical figures and village memories of his Russian Jewish heritage into his compositions. This etching is emblematic of the dream-like perspective and intimate scale he favored for prints, eschewing traditional spatial reality in favor of emotional and metaphorical resonance. The use of the black-and-white medium heightens the visual tension and focuses the viewer entirely on the intricate narrative etched onto the plate.

As a pivotal figure in 20th-century art, Chagall produced significant bodies of work across both painting and printmaking. This specific work, dating from 1927, demonstrates his unique proficiency in translating his signature visual poetry into graphic form. Unlike his contemporaries, Chagall maintained a deeply personal and often whimsical visual vocabulary, making works like The Two Goats instantly recognizable. This print is currently held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), ensuring its continued study and accessibility as a key document of modernist printmaking. The ongoing influence of Chagall’s technique on subsequent generations of artists working in print media remains significant.