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Religion
Notice the angel present near the two lovers. This conveys a certain holiness
and sanctity for the concept of young and old love. This is a recurring theme
in several of Marc Chagall’s paintings, likely a result of his religious
upbringing and large family. See Three Candles
for another very similar example of this premise.
Passion
The outdoor setting is accentuated by the ‘through the window’
view, which not only serves to frame the scene, but adds a flavor of atmosphere.
The deep, bold colors really serve to add a passionate mood to the view, which
is something that is necessary for this kind of outlook. The detail, or lack
thereof, on the faces of the two lovers, is quite effective at drawing the
attention away from the faces themselves, and onto the sheer passion of their
pose, which really is the point of this work.
As usual, Chagall sees no need to waste canvas with anything less than deep, vivid colors, stretching from edge to edge. I see this painting hanging on a red wall in a large room, creating a rich, striking contrast that draws your eye when you walk into the room. Aside from being a good example of a Marc Chagall painting, thanks to its theme of romance and religion, I like this one because of its artistic merit. The colors just work together to create a beautiful image.