Birth

autumn 1909

Meeting Bella Rosenfeld

In the autumn of 1909 in Vitebsk, Thea Brachman introduced Chagall to her friend Berta (Bella) Rosenfeld. The encounter proved decisive in the artist's life: Bella became his lifelong muse.

May 1911

Move to Paris

On a stipend from M. M. Vinaver he left for Paris, where he met avant-garde artists including the Delaunays, Apollinaire, and Cendrars. In Paris he began calling himself Marc for the first time; in 1912 he moved into La Ruche.

1 October 1912

Participation in the Salon d'Automne

He took part in the Paris Salon d'Automne, which opened on 1 October 1912 and where more than half the works were painted in a Cubist manner. The critic Tugendhold singled out Chagall's works among those of the young Russians.

early 1913

First Solo Exhibition

In early 1913 Chagall's first solo exhibition was held at the Académie Marie Vassilieff in Paris.

September 1913

Exhibition at the First German Autumn Salon

In September 1913 Chagall's paintings were shown at the First German Autumn Salon (Erster Deutscher Herbstsalon) in Berlin, from where the artist returned to Russia.