Inspired by Chagall’s biography, My Life, Landmann has merged the story of the artist’s life and the development of his artistic style into this visually dramatic children’s book.
The dialogue captures the dream-like quality of the artist’s work and the illustrations recreate and reflect Chagall’s art through coloration and medium. Her use of textures demonstrates the feel of Chagall’s abstract and surrealistic view of the world.
The text tackles several difficult topics, ranging from self-development, self-identity, the creative process and the ability to verbalize personal desires within a family structure. In a compressed timeframe, Chagall’s life is integrated into the historical events of the century. Landmann uses the historical references to establish Chagall’s concept that the real world is within ourselves.
Judaic elements run through the story. Chagall the boy goes to Hebrew school and studies Torah while searching for his identity. The events of revolution, war, hardship and escape, and their impact on Jews, are woven into the text.
A timeline provides an accurate history of the artist’s life and a correlation to his paintings. Ages 8 and up.
