Marc Chagall said: 'Stained glass is exhilarating [...] it must live through the perceived light'. The Centre Pompidou Metz is currently devoting an exhibition to the importance of stained glass in Chagall's work. Don't miss this great opportunity to discover this facet of his work through some exceptional creations.
Stained glass windows, models and preparatory sketches
The exhibition Chagall : le passeur de lumière which is held at the Centre Pompidou Metz invites you to discover Marc Chagall's stained glass windows at all stages of their creation.
The art of stained glass is approached through exceptional stained glass windows, but also models and preparatory sketches.
Each commission is presented in its context and bears witness to the renewal of sacred art in the aftermath of the Second World War.
Thirty years of creations
Between 1954 and 1984, Marc Chagall created stained glass windows for 15 French or foreign buildings.
Although his Jewish roots seem to distance him from the stained glass tradition, these commissions allowed the Russian artist to unfold his vision of the Bible, a source of inspiration that occupies a central place in his work.
Today, Marc Chagall's stained glass windows light up buildings, both religious and non-religious, in the Grand Est region but also in Nice, Germany, Israel, the United States, England and Switzerland.
Did you know that you can admire stained glass windows by the great Russian painter at the UN headquarters in New York?
The stained glass windows in the chapel of Le Saillant in Corrèze have been removed for security reasons and can therefore exceptionally be shown as part of the exhibition 'Chagall: the Passer of Light'.
Biblically inspired works
Marc Chagall considered the Bible to be 'the greatest source of poetry of all time'.
As part of the exhibition 'Chagall: the Passer of Light', the stained glass windows are in dialogue with other works by the artist.
Audiovisual archives, paintings, sculptures and ceramics support the personal language of the artist who drew his inspiration from the Bible.
It should also be noted that this exhibition was conceived in partnership with the Musée National Marc Chagall de Nice which is more specifically dedicated to the artist's biblical message.
These stained glass windows, made at the end of his life, also bear witness to the influence of the avant-gardes, as one can recognize the fragmentation of cubist forms and the flamboyant colors of fauvism.
Practical information
The exhibition 'Chagall: le passeur de lumière' runs until August 30, 2021 at the Centre Pompidou Metz.
The exhibition will then be presented in the fall at the Marc Chagall Museum in Nice.
Address
Centre Pompidou Metz
1, parvis des Droits de l'Homme
57020 Metz
Hours
Open every day except Tuesday.
From 10am to 6pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
From 10am to 7pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Prices
From €7 to €12 depending on the number of exhibition spaces visited.
Free for people under 26, disabled people and their companions, jobseekers and social aid recipients.