Aptly entitle The Big Peasant, this composition revolves around a large, somewhat awestruck peasant, who gazes directly out towards the viewer, a shocked and quizzical expression upon his face. This peasant appears oblivious to the fact that he is standing next to a beautiful woman emerging from a large, bountiful bouquet. Rather than focusing in on her beauty, the peasant opens his palms and gestures behind him as though asking the viewer what is going on in the unusual scene surrounding him. This topsy turvy composition has figures turned horizontal, vertical, and upside down as if they were stacked quickly upon each other in an attempt to frame the peasant at the center. Larger than life animals peak in to the right accompanied by a mermaid and upside down houses while, to the left, a couple, violinist, and horse defy the laws of gravity. This intriguing work invites the viewer into Chagall's whimsical world of carefree fancy and keeps the viewer guessing as to what exactly is going on in this fascinating composition.

Created in 1968, this original color lithograph is numbered 29/50 in pencil in the lower left margin and hand signed by Marc Chagall (Vitebsk, 1887 - Saint-Paul, 1985) in pencil in the lower right margin.

1. Gauss, Ulrike, Marc Chagall, The Lithographs, image listed as cat. no. 549 on pg 260.
2. Sorlier, Charles. Chagall Lithographs, vol. III 1962 - 1968, Crown Publishers, Inc.: New York, 1986. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 549 on pg. 163.

Framed to archival museum grade conservation standards, this piece is framed in a handmade, close-cornered, gold leaf frame with slight surface wear along the border, with silk mats and optical grade Plexiglas.