Marc Chagall - Matières

Original and unclassifiable, Marc Chagall's work (1887--1985) draws on a wealth of references, shaped by his cultural roots and by the experiences that marked his long career as a painter, between Russia, France and the United States. In each of these places, the artist proved deeply receptive to craft, traditional and popular practices, finding inspiration in the traditions, expertise and cultures he encountered throughout his life. Beyond painting, he explored printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, stained glass, tapestry and theatre, developing a creative rapport with the craftspeople who worked alongside him. He investigated in depth the many possibilities linking the artist to the collective intangible heritage of a culture and a place. Through more than 200 works and documents, this exhibition reveals how materials, techniques and collaborations fuelled Chagall's imagination and transformed his artistic practice. In dialogue with the collections of the City of Mons museums and a selection of contemporary works from BeCraft, it offers a fresh perspective on Chagall's world and on the transmission of know-how through time. In partnership with the Marc Chagall Archives & Catalogue Raisonné. With the support of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Wallonia, and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Visual: Marc Chagall, La Bastille, 1953, oil, coloured ink and India ink on canvas, 81 × 100 cm, private collection © Marc and Ida Chagall Archives, Paris © SABAM Belgium 2026