De verre et de pierre – Chagall en mosaïque

It opens up new avenues for the artist in his research on light, matter and colour and the creation of monumental works in dialogue with architecture.

The artistic understanding that Chagall establishes with the mosaicists embodies a synergy where innovation and heritage meet, revealing the way in which an ancestral technique can stimulate contemporary creation. Thus, Chagall will produce from 1958 to 1986, fourteen mosaics distributed between the South of France (Nice, Vence, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Les-Arcs-sur-Argens), the United States (Chicago and Washington), Israel (Jerusalem) and Switzerland with a work created for a private mansion in Paris then transferred to the Fondation Gianadda in Martigny, in 2003.

This exhibition is an opportunity to offer, for the first time, a complete panorama of the fourteen mosaic projects produced by Chagall, through numerous works and archival documents. Given the architectural nature of the mosaic, some twenty-five sketches and models of Chagall mosaics illustrate the artist's research and creation process, while four to five mosaic pieces are exceptionally brought together and will constitute a highlight of the exhibition.

It is also an opportunity to highlight the mosaic Le Char d'Elie, created in 1971 for the Musée National Marc Chagall by presenting it opposite two models of this work, including the unpublished one acquired in 2023. A set of paintings, drawings, engravings and lithographs complete the presentation.

From the private collection and national and international institutions, these works are highlighted by an immersive scenography featuring large-format photographs of mosaics as well as interactive devices designed to introduce this ancestral technique to the public. The museum makes this exhibition accessible to as many people as possible through tactile devices that allow them to understand the mosaic technique, intended for everyone, especially families and people with visual impairments.

This exhibition is co-produced by the GrandPalaisRmn, the national museums of the 20th century of the Alpes-Maritimes and the Museo d'Arte della città di Ravenna (Italy). The exhibition will be presented from October 2025 to January 2026 at the Museo d'Arte della città di Ravenna (Italy).