ticketsMember | Make a donation

The Marketplace, Vitebsk

Marc Chagall French, born former Russian Empire, now Belarus
1917
Not on view
After training and exhibiting his art in Paris, Chagall returned to his hometown Vitebsk in 1914 to marry his childhood sweetheart Bella Rosenfeld. His homecoming was prolonged by World War I (1914–18), during which international travel became restricted. Showing a public square, The Marketplace, Vitebsk contrasts the large, opulent Baroque basilica with the modest storefronts and stalls. The painter employs dramatic perspective and uses the intersecting planes and angles of the buildings to move the viewer’s eye playfully throughout the scene, which contains no clear sign of the ongoing deadly conflict.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Marketplace, Vitebsk
  • Artist: Marc Chagall (French (born former Russian Empire, now Belarus), Vitebsk 1887–1985 Saint-Paul-de-Vence)
  • Date: 1917
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 26 × 38 1/4 in. (66 × 97.2 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Scofield Thayer, 1982
  • Object Number: 1984.433.6
  • Rights and Reproduction: © 2025 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
  • Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
A Water Carrier and a Coachman, Marc Chagall French, born former Russian Empire, now Belarus, Opaque watercolor, watercolor, and black and brown inks on paper
A Water Carrier and a Coachman
Marc Chagall
1912
Susanna and the Elders, Marc Chagall French, born former Russian Empire, now Belarus, Metallic paints, opaque watercolor, and brown ink on paper
Susanna and the Elders
Marc Chagall
1912
Water Carrier by Moonlight, Marc Chagall French, born former Russian Empire, now Belarus, Watercolor and opaque watercolor on paper
Water Carrier by Moonlight
Marc Chagall
1911
Couple, Marc Chagall French, born former Russian Empire, now Belarus, Brush and black ink, opaque watercolor, and watercolor on paper
Couple
Marc Chagall
1911
The Village Idiot, Marc Chagall French, born former Russian Empire, now Belarus, Oil paint and graphite on paper
The Village Idiot
Marc Chagall
1914–15

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.