T
he highly contrasted palette and surrealistic figural arrangement in the present work exudes an atmosphere of joyous love and optimism synonymous with the artist’s late works. Set in a romantic scene at dusk, the composition also embodies a nostalgic world of fond memories that inspired a majority of Chagall’s oeuvre: A pair of embracing lovers and a blooming bouquet that signify love and passion, the ripening fruit basket that signifies prosperity and fertility, and a nocturnal cityscape that stirs feelings of nostalgia.
The presence of a bride is a poignant evocation of Chagall’s happy marriage to his late wife Bella until her unt.mes ly death in 1944. In the composition, Chagall lovingly embraces Bella in her bridal gown, offering her affection and solace.
"As I got nearer to the Côte d’Azur, I experienced a feeling of regeneration, something I hadn’t felt since childhood. The smell of flowers, a sort of new energy poured through me […]. Near to Nice already, I felt that numerous artists had come here, that it was a place where it was possible to establish oneself, to set oneself up. In such a town, you could write music, poetry, paint pictures […]. As if I was rejuvenated, and that I was waiting for something. And this flower-filled world coloured my new life."
Titled ‘Couple et mimosas’, this work represents a rare depiction of mimosas in Chagall’s oeuvre, a flower that symbolizes strength, resilience, delicacy and warmth in its signature yellow palette, often associated with sunshine, joy, and optimism. Inspired by the dazzling sunlight and lush vegetation in the South of France, Chagall’s deep bond with the Mediterranean landscape instigated the creation of this work.
A lithograph from 1967, in an edition of 150, was created based on the present work. It is part of the ‘Nice et la Côte d'Azur’ portfolio, created with the French printmaker Charles Sorlier.
《情 侶與含羞草》中對比強烈的色調，與超現實的構圖佈局，呼應著藝術家晚期作品中如出一轍的愉悅氛圍。作品描繪了一個深夜時分的浪漫場景，並體現了啟發夏加爾筆下眾多創作的舊日回憶：畫中一對相擁的戀人，以及身後一束盛開的花卉，象徵著愛與激情；成熟的水果籃，則象徵著繁榮與豐饒；深夜的城市景觀，則散發著獨特的懷舊情懷。
畫中新娘的形象，令人聯想到夏加爾與其已故妻子貝拉之間幸福婚姻的動人回憶，她於1944年不幸早逝。本作中，夏加爾愛意滿滿地擁抱著身著婚紗的貝拉，給予她提供無限的愛與關懷。
本作名為《情侶與含羞草》，而在夏加爾的作品中，含羞草此一花種的描繪十分罕有；它象徵著生命力、韌性、敏感、纖巧和溫暖，其標誌性的黃色調常與陽光、快樂和樂觀等意象聯繫在一起。夏加爾受到南法耀眼陽光和豐富植被所啟發，其深入探索地中海的壯麗景色，促成了本作的構思。
1967年出版的一幅石版版畫以本作為原型，共有150版，該版畫屬「尼斯與藍色海岸」的系列之一，並與法國版畫家查爾斯·索爾耶合作完成。