Marc Chagall was born in Russia and into the Jewish faith. Many of his paintings use figure and abstraction to tell a visual story. Bella in Mourillon is a more representational work than many he created. The beautiful play of color in white and blue and hints of others sets a tone of coping and a scene of deliberate peace.

This work seems to reach back into our past year of loss and determination; touch our present days of study and confession; and reflect our building hope for spring and Easter morning. It seems to be a three-in-one image of pandemic anniversaries, our Lenten year and season, and the approaching new creation of nature and faith simply held here in the bright and the vague.

From a timeless and expanded perspective, this image holds a fullness of life in expectation and response as a woman, Chagall’s beloved wife Bella, simply does her work in the shadow of the unknown and the beautiful. Her concentration seems a remedy and example for all of us.

May we each find quiet in this noisy world and peace in the work of our hearts and hands as Holy Week approaches. Thanks be to God. Amen.

In faith and hope,

Sandy Prouty

Minister of Children and Families

Montview Church