My Life by Marc Chagall

First published 1928

These pages have the same meaning as a painted surface." - Chagall, My Life

I read the French version of this book, translated I assume from Russian (he wrote it in Moscow) by Chagall's wife, muse and love of his life Bella.

It's a beautifully original autobiography, the only book Chagall wrote, describing the years of his youth in a Jewish neighborhood in Witebsk, Russia, through 1922 when he starts his career as an artist.

His illustrations, along with the poetic text which reads like a painting, brings insight into the real people (the fiddler, the rabbi, the bride) and places in many of his well known works.

Drawing from My Life: A cantor from Chagall's hometown, Witebsk, Russia.

This book gave me an unexpected and pleasant respite from the current USA presidency, where like in Chagall's paintings, the world seems upside down, but not in the same lovely and imaginative way.

Chagall, The Birthday. Upside down but lovely.