Mark Chagall: America Windows

Marc Chagall: America Windows

The America Windows (1977, Image 1) by Marc Chagall is a massive stained glass piece, consisting of 3 different sections separated by a section of wall about one and a half feet across. Each section is then made up of 12 smaller sections, which are themselves made of various pieces of cut glass in a variety of colors. In total, the piece measures 244 cm tall, and 978 cm across.1 Some structures and images of the piece are made up of this mosaic like patchwork of glass, while others get their shape from painting on the glass itself. Most of the glass used is various shades of blue, but some sections feature greens, yellows, and reds as well. The first third, starting from the left, has a variety of musicians and instruments; one of which is the large yellow angel playing the flute in the upper left, who is joined by several violins and violinists scattered throughout. There is also a city skyline slowly ascending from left to right along the bottom. Various trees and people are painted on top of the glass. In the second section there is a bright yellow sun dominating the upper left, over what appears to be a table with someone’s hand holding a pen over paper. In the lower left the city skyline from the first section comes in and briefly levels out approximately a quarter of the way up the piece. The upper right hand corner is a large reddish pink dove, flying over the city. In the bottom center of the section is the statue of liberty, painted over the glass. The third section features several people in dress and costumes, as well as a person kneeling before a menorah on the left side. On the right there are people who seem to be singing and dancing while floating in the sky, over the city skyline which is continuing along the bottom. Many more subtle details of paint could surely be made out were one to get a closer look in person. Just like with any medium of art, pictures of the original piece simply cannot compare.

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1. “About This Artwork,” under Chagall collection at Chicaco Art Institute online. Accessed March 29th, 2013http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/109439?search_no=2&index=3

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In order to make the piece a reality, Chagall worked closely with French stained-glass blower, Charles Marq.2 Marq used a technique called “Flash Glass” in order to create multiple colors on a single piece of glass, giving it the acid washed look, as well as blending of colors.3 Marq also decided where the “canes” or separations between the cuts of glass would go and how it would best fit the flow of the painting.4 Chagall’s original designs were done in water color, and all of the actual glass work was done by Marq.5 After Marq had turned the designs into a workable canvas, Chagall used a grisaille made of various metals and binders which when fired would permanently stick to the glass to portray the detail, as well as form many of the larger figures such as the Statue of Liberty and many of the people.6

Chagall first began planning the piece when we was in Chicago for his mosaic The Four Seasons and learned that the Chicago Art Institute was planning to devote an entire exhibit to him. He was so inspired by the gesture that he offered to create a stained glass piece which eventually became America Windows as we know it today.7 The funding for the exhibition initially came from The City of Chicago, as well as the Auxiliary Board of the Art Institute.8 As he was designing

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