"Le Joie", 1980
Signed lower right margin, ed.EA lower left margin
Colored lithograph
Sheet size 45.7 x 29.6 inch (116 x 75.3 cm)
 
Le Joie by Marc Chagall is a dreamlike print that reflects the artist’s recurring themes of love, memory, and imagination. The composition centers on a couple embracing, symbolizing intimacy and emotional connection. Their tender pose and the woman’s red dress stand out against the soft blue background, giving the scene a calm and romantic atmosphere.
 
Around the couple are several surreal elements typical of Chagall’s work. A figure floats across the sky, suggesting freedom or spiritual elevation, while whimsical animal forms appear nearby. The presence of the Eiffel Tower places the scene in Paris, a city that greatly influenced Chagall’s artistic life.
 
Overall, Le Joie—meaning “Joy”—captures a poetic vision of love and happiness. Through its floating figures, symbolic animals, and soft color palette, the artwork blends fantasy and reality, expressing the idea that love and memory can lift people beyond ordinary life.