Marc Chagall (1887-1985)
Paysage à Peïra Cava ou Les Chardons
The Nostalgia of Snow.
For Chagall, born in the icy landscapes of Vitebsk, snow was never just weather; it was memory.
Painted in 1931 during a stay in the Alpine village of Peïra Cava with his muse Bella, this work reveals a rare, quiet side of the master.
Gone are the flying fiddlers and floating lovers. Instead, Chagall offers an almost Impressionistic study of light, reminiscent of Monet or Pissarro. Through an open window, we see a winter wonderland, anchored by an interior of solitude: an empty chair, a white tablecloth, and a vase of thistles—resilient flowers that survive even the harshest frost.
Why it matters: A rare deviation from his Surrealist canon. This is a "quiet Chagall"—an intimate, atmospheric work that shows the artist dreaming with his eyes open. An exceptional piece for a collector who values the artist’s range beyond the clichés.
Details:
Oil on canvas.
73.5 x 60.5 cm (29 x 23 ¾ in).
Signed and dated lower left: Marc Chagall 931.
Market Context:
Auction: Christie’s, New York.
Date: 18 Nov 2025.
Estimate: $800,000