Icon of Modernism - Review of Marc Chagall (Bio) by Jonathan Wilson.

 

The reader turns the first page of this little book to see the 1929 oil on canvas painting, "Lovers" by Marc Chagall. The painting depicts a man and woman seated and embracing; the woman's head turned inward on the man's breast, while the man, an expression of calm and contentment, peers upward, watching a winged angel flying overhead, across a deep purple sky. The painting has the deep and rich signature color of all Chagall's work, though lacks the intense emotional suffering and ambivalence that makes up so much of his oeuvre, however this painting evokes a mystical love, a true love which, in my opinion, expresses the relationship between the artist and his beautiful wife, Bella. 

 As part of the Jewish Encounter project, Marc Chagall by Jonathan Wilson is one contribution devoted to the promotion of Jewish literature, culture, and ideas. 
 
It can be observed that most of Chagall's work, according to the author, is an expression of his philosophy, his religious sensibility if you will, in the form of the "literalization of metaphors", deeply grounded in the mystical and symbolic Hasidic world and Yiddish folktales, which include in their writings the "repository of flying animals and miraculous events." (P. 13) 
 
It is impossible to label Chagall's work as "Expressionism", but the representation of an acute imagination, colored in fantasy, depicting highly charged religious symbols, including in several works, Christs Crucifixion in a variety of contexts. What I love about Chagall is the viewer is drawn into the work by its striking color and busy subject matter and is compelled to study it, because the meaning of the painting must be discovered as it is not apparent on a superficial viewing. 
 
Wilson does a wonderful job of narrating Chagall's life in terms of the major events that the artist experienced, spanning through the Russian revolution, two world wars, the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel. Wilson suggests that in viewing Chagall's paintings against the backdrop of these major historical events will see the artist's work as a response to them, and his personal inner conflict between his "Jewishness" and his focus on Christ's Crucifixion, and his attempt at secularism in many of his paintings. 
 
My favorite paintings by the artist are his various representations of love that display an ethereal, mystical quality, a sublimeness that to me captures love in their most revealing forms, as Wilson comments, "Chagall's vision of love, so appealing to the human soul, frequently involves a merging of two faces, or bodies, into one. In this regard he is Platonic, as his figures pursue their other halves in an apparent longing to become whole again. Over and again, he paints the myth that Aristophanes recounts in The Symposium." (P.174) 
 
Chagall's life Wilson suggests was an attempt through his art at the reconciliation between two worlds, a genuine effort universalizing or merging opposites, he writes, "In his paintings, past and present, dream and reality, rabbi and clown, secular and observant, revolutionary and Jew, Jesus and Elijah...all commingle and merge in a world where history and geography but also the laws of physics and nature have been suspended." (P. 210) 
 
Wilson's Marc Chagall is an erudite biography and insightful critical work. Although relatively short in length, manages to capture the artist who is considered along with Picasso and Matisse, one of the icons of Modernism. 

 

Homage to Apollinaire. 1911-1912. Oil on canvas, 209x198 cm. 

Why is Russian/Ukraine war Dragging on?

 

The latest US/Euro sanctions on Russia is an attempt, we are told, to bring President Putin back to the negotiating table with Zelensky to bring about peace. To be fair, I’ve lost count on the number of sanctions that have been placed on Russia since 2022. Interestingly, none of these economic efforts to strangle Moscow have had any effect. Despite the empty bluster from elected and unelected officials from Brussels and Washington, forcing Russia’s hand in this manner simply doesn’t work. Why is this empty strategy continuing?  

Despite the EU’s constant saber rattling, threatening Russia with WWIII, and at the same time, claiming Ukraine is winning the war, do not have the military capability to go to war with Russia. Of course, these effeminates, globalist puppets for international bankers will never tell us the truth. In effect, the EU cannot make a move unless their big daddy in the White House gives them permission. The EU is a wet paper tiger in a mini skirt.  

At the beginning of the Trump administration, many had high hopes that the end to this war would become a reality. Trump bragged about creating peace in Ukraine throughout his 2024 campaign. The amount of times President Trump has changed his mind about Russia and Putin since attaining office would cause severe whiplash to any casual observer. The real motives for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have been apparent from the start. As the cliche goes, ‘truth is the first casualty of war’ applies to this one. The truth is the west provoked this war. Russia has no intention to conquer Europe, and the EU leaders have been pushing these lies from the beginning.  

Last year, I reviewed a comprehensive essay by Benjamin Abelow entitled How the West Brought War to Ukraine. See: Abelow – How the West Brought War to Ukraine – Comment. The book briefly outlines why this war broke out. It also suggests how to end the conflict.  

Below is listed several reasons why this war is a proxy for NATO and the US from the above stated essay by Abelow: 

• Expanded NATO over a thousand miles eastward, pressing it towards Russia’s border.  

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• Withdraw unilaterally from the Antiballistic Missile Treaty and placed antiballistic launch systems in NATO countries.  

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• Helped lay the groundwork for, and may have directly instigated, an armed, far-right coup in Ukraine.  

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• Conducted countless NATO military exercises near Russia’s borders.  

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• Asserted, without pressing strategic need, and in disregard of the threat such a move would pose for Russia, that Ukraine would become a NATO member.   

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• Withdraw unilaterally from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, increasing Russian vulnerability to a US first strike.  

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• Armed and trained Ukraine military through bilateral agreements and held regular joint military training exercises inside Ukraine.  

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• Led the Ukrainian leadership to adopt an uncompromising stance toward Russia, further exacerbating the threat to Russia... 

Again, this is a proxy war for the US. This would include the EU. I would suggest that all-out conflict with Russia by the US could well bring nuclear annihilation, therefore, by extending the war economically (sanctions) and continuing to supply Ukraine with more weaponry, the US will eventually weaken them to the extent that regime change is a possibility. The hope is by slowly chipping away at Russia, overtime the globalist factions, international bankers can reap the harvest of Russia’s resources.  

War is good business. Weapon manufactures depend on conflict to constantly replenish their bottom line. Because the US is a war-based economy (since WWII) continuing conflict is a must.  All the weaponry given to Israel from the US to actively pursue the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, and the billions of dollars and bombs given to Ukraine and now planning an invasion in Venezuela, proves this point. If you believe this war is about sustaining ‘democracy’ in Ukraine, you’re living in a brainwashed, alternate reality. It’s about global hegemony and economic dominance.  

Many have finally arrived at the conclusion that our leaders and their handlers do not care about the people. Human lives don’t matter, only money and power.  

The war is dragging on in Ukraine for this single, albeit cynical, reason: 

War is good business.