Miracle in Reality: Marc Chagall in Poland (1918-1939)

In my paper, I would like to present various aspects of Marc Chagall’s presence in Poland – his mythical presence, his being an example of a Jewish artist who became successful and modern while remaining faithful to the Jewish world, and finally his actual visit to Poland in 1935 on the occasion of the Jewish Art Museum opening at YIVO and the 10th anniversary of the Institute.

Chagall’s creative activity became a subject of serious critical reflection by Aurelia Gottlieb in Miesięcznik Żydowski (Jewish Monthly) and Debora Vogel in Tsushtayer (Contribution). Their important texts were first attempts at in-depth analysis of Chagall’s oeuvre to be made in Poland.

Chagall, along with his artistic and poetic works, was permanently present in the Polish-Jewish press, both in Yiddish (Literarishe Bleter, Tsushtayer, Folkstsaytung) and in Polish (Nasz Przegląd, Nowy Dziennik, Opinia, Miesięcznik Żydowski). Based on the press publications (articles and interviews with the artist), I would like to reconstruct the role and meaning of Chagall for other Polish-Jewish artists, in particular as a master of modernity and creator of a Jewish style in art, as well as a model of engagement in activities on behalf of the modern Jewish culture.