I walked into the Museum and the first painting that caught my eye was this interesting piece by Marc Chegall. The scene includes what appears to be a bride, who looks as though made of porcelain, being carried or held by a man in blue. All while a band full of animals on the cello and piano play in the background. My guide informs me of the history of this painting. A long time ago, there were arranged marriages. This woman was sold by her father to a wealthy merchant that he had never met, her father just wanted the money. On the day of the wedding, her father and mother drove her out on carriage to the destination. When they arrived, the merchant was in mysterious blue robes and told the girl to come inside and change into the dress he had picked out for her. When she came out in an untraditional red dress and a long, flowing, white veil, she saw what had happened to her parents. They had been turned into a ram and a fish, and were playing wedding songs. The mysterious man saw her distress and urged her to dance with him. When she did not, the man (who was actually a wizard) turned her into a porcelain statue that one would see on a wedding cake, and danced the night away with her. The guide moves on with the rest of the tour group, but I just stand there captivated by the image. I don't know why people paint what they do, and the result can be weird or beautiful. But I do know that we have the ability to interpret paintings into whatever we think it means. And I think that is beautiful.
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