muffinreads's review against another edition
2.0
An interesting read. Chagall’s art is not at all to my taste but it can be appreciated nevertheless.
janedallaway's review
3.0
I found this a bit of a challenge to engage with. I wanted to find out more about Marc Chagall for a couple of reasons - firstly a friend had mentioned his style to me a year or so ago, and secondly because I’m seeing “The flying lovers of Vitebsk” as part of Brighton Festival and that is about Marc and Bella.
After being unsure how to approach this book - the pictures and the text don’t always completely align - I decided to read the words first, and look at the pictures when they were referenced in the text.
I then looked at the chronology at the back and looked at the referenced pictures again.
And finally I looked at all the pictures, and read the quotes in the side parts of the book.
My three favourite pictures in this book are, in the order they appear in the book, The Cattle Dealer, The Birthday, and Lovers in the Lilacs.
I find some of the work quite challenging and confusing with all the various layers of imagery. I find that I like art that I can rest in, that bring a sense of peace. Or art that tells a story. I saw Marc Chagal’s stained glass window at Chichester Cathedral on Thursday - a glorious, rich red - and the timing of experiencing that fits in well with the reading of this book. I’d be interested in seeing some more of his work in “the flesh” and to experience that in a different setting.
After being unsure how to approach this book - the pictures and the text don’t always completely align - I decided to read the words first, and look at the pictures when they were referenced in the text.
I then looked at the chronology at the back and looked at the referenced pictures again.
And finally I looked at all the pictures, and read the quotes in the side parts of the book.
My three favourite pictures in this book are, in the order they appear in the book, The Cattle Dealer, The Birthday, and Lovers in the Lilacs.
I find some of the work quite challenging and confusing with all the various layers of imagery. I find that I like art that I can rest in, that bring a sense of peace. Or art that tells a story. I saw Marc Chagal’s stained glass window at Chichester Cathedral on Thursday - a glorious, rich red - and the timing of experiencing that fits in well with the reading of this book. I’d be interested in seeing some more of his work in “the flesh” and to experience that in a different setting.
feuilleso's review against another edition
4.0
would have given 5 stars but was surprised that there was no chapter about his time at the opera.
booktwitcher23's review against another edition
3.0
Best for the pictures as the translation of the original text is somewhat stilted.
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