Marc Chagall, born Moïshe Zakharovich Shagalov on July 7, 1887, in Vitebsk, Russia, was a multifaceted artist known for his work as a painter, printmaker, and master of stained glass. Raised in a humble Jewish family with nine siblings, he discovered his passion for art at an early age while training in a local portrait studio. He later continued his studies in Saint Petersburg before moving to Paris, where he lived from 1910 to 1914.

In Paris, Chagall was immersed in the modernist avant-garde and met influential figures such as Amadeo Modigliani and Guillaume Apollinaire. Influenced by movements like Cubism, Fauvism, and Surrealism, he created important works such as The Soldier Drinks and I and the Village. His art often evokes memories of childhood, Jewish heritage, and his hometown, combining fantasy with dreamlike imagery.

When World War I broke out, Chagall was visiting Russia and was unable to return to Europe. During that time, he married Bella, a woman he had previously painted. Even after her passing, she remained a central figure in his work. In Russia, he served as the Commissioner of Arts in Vitebsk and founded an art school before leaving the country in 1922.

Back in Paris, he entered one of the most prolific phases of his career. In 1927, he illustrated La Fontaine’s Fables, a series of 100 etchings published only in 1952. The following years were marked by both personal and professional growth.

During the 1930s, his paintings began to reflect the anxiety and oppression of the Nazi regime, with increasingly dramatic and religious themes. Chagall took refuge in the United States during World War II and returned to France in 1947, where he lived until his death.

To create the illustrations for Daphnis and Chloe, he traveled to Greece in search of inspiration from the ancient world. Over the years, he held major exhibitions in New York and Paris and expanded his legacy by designing stained glass for churches and synagogues, further demonstrating the depth and versatility of his artistic vision.