Israel 1969 King David

The stamp commemorates the 25th anniversary of the State of Israel. It features a work by Marc Chagall titled "King David."

Marc Chagall[ (born Moishe Shagal; 1887 – 28 March 1985) was a Russian and French artist. An early modernist, he was associated with the École de Paris, as well as several major artistic styles and created works in a wide range of artistic formats, including painting, drawings, book illustrations, stained glass, stage sets, ceramics, tapestries and fine art prints.

Chagall was born in 1887, into a Jewish family near Vitebsk, today in Belarus.  Before World War I, he travelled between Saint Petersburg, Paris, and Berlin.  He spent the wartime years in his native Belarus. He later worked in and near Moscow in difficult conditions during hard times in Russia following the Bolshevik Revolution, before leaving again for Paris in 1923. During World War II, he escaped occupied France to the United States, where he lived in New York City for seven years before returning to France in 1948.

The painting on the stamp, "King David" by Marc Chagall, completed in 1962, is a vibrant and expressive work that blends elements of Jewish folklore, biblical narratives, and Chagall's signature modernist style.

King David is depicted playing a harp, a traditional symbol of his musical talent and kingship. He is dressed in flowing robes and wears a crown, emphasizing his royal status.

Chagall uses bold colors, including vibrant reds, blues, yellows, and greens, creating a sense of energy and dynamism.

The painting incorporates elements of dreamlike imagery, such as floating figures, fantastical creatures, and symbolic motifs. This is characteristic of Chagall's style, which often blurs the lines between reality and the subconscious.

The painting reflects Chagall's Jewish heritage, drawing inspiration from Jewish folklore, biblical narratives, and Hasidic imagery.