Estate of the artist
Private Collection

Bouquet et nu unites many of Chagall's best-loved elements, most importantly the floral bouquet and the nude.  Unlike many of his compositions, which often mix an array of animals, people and landscapes in one picture plane, the present work is a unified composition, expressing a single narrative.  While the vase of flowers dominates the center of the picture, the nude below grounds the composition and a cluster of buildings are dwarfed by her presence.  The upper section of the composition is populated by two figures floating near a large self-portrait head that harks back to Chagall's more youthful years.