Wrath II (La Colère II) from The Seven Deadly Sins (Les Sept péchés capitaux)

Wrath II (La Colère II) from The Seven Deadly Sins (Les Sept péchés capitaux) by Marc Chagall, created in 1925 and published the following year, is one of sixteen prints in a significant portfolio exploring human moral failings. Classified as a print, this powerful graphic work was produced using the intricate techniques of etching and drypoint. The portfolio demonstrates Chagall's engagement with spiritual and literary themes during his influential early period in French art, a style characterized by expressionistic distortion and deeply personal, often dreamlike, iconography.

Chagall, a crucial figure in the Parisian avant-garde, brought his unique narrative approach to these biblical-themed compositions. Unlike his vibrant color canvases, the prints rely entirely on line and tonal variation to convey intense psychological states. The choice of etching and drypoint allowed him to achieve stark contrasts and a nervous, expressive line that amplifies the dramatic tension inherent in the subject of wrath. The complete portfolio, often referenced simply as The Seven Deadly Sins, showcases the artist's versatility and commitment to the print medium, which was experiencing a renewed popularity among early 20th-century French artists.

This specific piece, representing the violent emotion of wrath, reflects the anxieties and artistic experimentation prevalent in the mid-1920s. The mastery displayed in the composition secures its place in the history of modern graphic arts. The work resides in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, ensuring its availability for scholarly reference and public viewing. Although the original work is a valuable museum holding, high-quality images of this seminal 1925 work are sometimes made available through public domain initiatives for educational purposes.