Noah and the Rainbow (13)Марк Захарович Шагал · 1963

Identification of the Artwork and Artist

Noah and the Rainbow (13) is a work by Marc Chagall. Created in 1963, this piece measures 45 x 60 cm. It captures a specific moment of biblical narrative through the artist's unique visual language.

The artist, Marc Chagall, was born in 1887 in Liozna, in the country of Belarus. His life moved from the provincial textures of a small household to the intense creative friction of the avant-garde scenes in Saint-Petersburg and Paris. This specific work, Noah and the Rainbow (13), emerged from a period of deep engagement with religious themes.

The paper and ink of this drawing hold a quiet weight. It is a fragment of a larger spiritual dialogue. A single line remains.

Visual Composition and Subject Matter

This black and white drawing captures a scene from the biblical story of Noah's Ark. In the center, two figures stand side by side. An elephant occupies the middle of the composition, carrying a large object upon its back. The arrangement of these elements creates a sense of movement and constant activity across the plane.

Other figures are scattered throughout the space, some appearing as people and others as more abstract or symbolic forms. Near the top left corner, a single chair sits in the composition. The drawing translates the narrative through a collection of interacting elements that suggest a world in motion.

Related Works by Marc Chagall

The artist’s exploration of this biblical narrative finds echoes in other compositions. In 1931, he painted Noah lets go the dove through the window of the Ark (Genesis VIII, 6 9). The brushwork captures a specific moment of release. It is a quiet gesture amidst the weight of the flood.

Other studies from the same era offer different perspectives on the theme. Noah's Ark was created in 1963. Nearby, the oil painting Noah and the Rainbow (10) also emerged in 1963. These works share a connection to the same spiritual inquiry. They exist as fragments of a larger, unfolding vision.