Marc Chagall (7 July 1887 – 28 March 1985), was a Russian-French artist associated with several major artistic styles and one of the most successful artists of the 20th century. He was an early modernist, and created works in virtually every artistic medium, including painting, book illustrations, stained glass, stage sets, ceramic, tapestries and fine art prints.
Art critic Robert Hughes referred to Chagall as "the quintessential Jewish artist of the twentieth century". According to art historian Michael J. Lewis, Chagall was considered to be "the last survivor of the first generation of European modernists". For decades, he "had also been respected as the world's preeminent Jewish artist". Using the medium of stained glass, he produced windows for the cathedrals of Reims and Metz, windows for the UN, and the Jerusalem Windows in Israel. He also did large-scale paintings, including part of the ceiling of the Paris Opéra.
On Getting The News
They did give me proof,
proof of you in flaming red,
proof that you were dead.
They did give me that
though I prefer fantasy
most days anymore.
My apostasy
and my apothecary both
have been extensive,
the roof of all my
sharper tongued resistances
and my prickly pride.
March 15, 2012 6:30 AM
you have gathered such momentum in this poem of anguish and self-revelation, thank you for the background information.
ReplyDeletepowerful words- well done
ReplyDeleteNice touch with Marc Chagall's information.
very gut wrenching...
ReplyDeleteha, i think fantasy is where many of us would rather live...proof only erodes the basis of our truth...
ReplyDeleteSuperb write.
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
I prefer fantasy these days, as well..."the roof of all my sharper tongued resistances" is brilliant...
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your page. I like fantasy too !
ReplyDeleteYou always distil the very essence of the prompt in your words...
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful! I love the ending: "the roof of all my
ReplyDeletesharper tongued resistances
and my prickly pride"
rosemarymint.wordpress.com
Brilliantly expressive, Christopher. Thank you for sharing this perspective.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the background on Chagall. Wish I would've read your post first. Who know what I would've come up with instead of what I came up with. I, too, prefer fantasy most days anymore.
ReplyDeleteNice to read you.
Thanks for the history. I like your poem very much, especially the last two lines.
ReplyDeleteLike how you connected apostasy and apothecary ... terrific writing, Christopher.
ReplyDeleteGreat history.
ReplyDeleteAnd the bow to fantasy.
Well done.
=)
A painting in words. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI was struck by the repetition of the word 'proof' - almost an insistence of death. A nice touch to include some factual background too.
ReplyDeleteThe flaming apostasy of extensive resistance
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your comments. I appreciate them.
ReplyDeleteMy apostasy
ReplyDeleteand my apothecary both
have been extensive,
I thought these lines had clinched it for me - until I read the next three. Beautifully worked.
wonderfully written!
ReplyDeleteJJRod'z