Making Art Like Marc Chagall: Paris Through the Window
Making Art Like Marc Chagall: Paris Through the Window
Do your homeschool students love bright colors, dreamy scenes, or art that feels more like a storybook than a still life? Then they’ll be captivated by the work of Marc Chagall.
This blog dives into Chagall’s imaginative world, highlighting one of his most famous works, Paris Through the Window.
You’ll also find creative, hands-on art activities in his style, plus a journal prompt to encourage student reflection.
If you are teaching art history or looking for a new creative outlet, this lesson brings meaningful art into your homeschool curriculum.
Who is Marc Chagall?
Marc Chagall was a Russian-French artist born in 1887 in Vitebsk, a small city in what is now Belarus. He grew up in a close-knit Jewish community, which deeply influenced his artwork.
Chagall’s early experiences with folklore, religion, and village life shaped his creative vision, giving his paintings a dreamlike quality that blends memory, fantasy, and personal symbolism.
He eventually moved to Paris, where he became part of the modernist art movement, surrounded by influential artists like Picasso and Matisse. Chagall’s unique style, combining Cubism, Fauvism, and Surrealism, sets him apart from the rest.
He is known for floating figures, upside-down animals, and glowing, vibrant colors. Marc Chagall’s work often told stories. He created art as if he were illustrating poetry by painting large and legendary murals, or creating stained glass windows. His art expressed emotion more than realism.
That’s why his work speaks so strongly to children and young learners. It is imaginative, expressive, and full of wonder.
How Can Homeschoolers Learn from Marc Chagall?
Marc Chagall invites children to think beyond the lines and colors they see in front of them. His work shows that art doesn’t have to be realistic to be powerful or meaningful.
When homeschoolers study Chagall, they learn how color can express feeling, how to mix memory and imagination, and how art can break the rules of gravity, perspective, or proportion.
These ideas help students break free from the belief that “good” art has to look a certain way. Instead, they are encouraged to explore art as a personal, emotional language full of movement, symbolism, and storytelling.
Through a guided project inspired by Chagall, homeschoolers can connect art with literacy, social studies, and personal reflection. This is a beautiful way to support creative development and emotional intelligence.
What is Paris Through the Window?
“Paris! No word sounded sweeter to me!” Chagall quoted in his autobiography.
One of Chagall’s most famous paintings, Paris Through the Window (1913), captures his love for the city while reflecting on his feelings of homesickness and wonder.
At first glance, the painting shows a colorful view from a window. But look closer, and you’ll find surreal, dreamlike details such as a two-faced figure looking both backwards and forward, a floating cat with a human face, the Eiffel Tower and train tracks in the distance, and bold, clashing colors that feel both joyful and strange.
This famous piece is a perfect example of Chagall’s storytelling style. He paints not only what he sees, but what he feels. It’s full of emotion, layered meaning, and childlike imagination.
For homeschoolers, this painting offers a starting point for discussing symbolism, perspective, color theory, and even geography or history.
A Chagall-Inspired Art Activity
To help students create their own version of Paris Through the Window, try this project.
Dreamlike Window Collage
Objective: Create a collage that shows what you imagine outside your window, real or make-believe.
Materials:
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Construction paper or cardstock
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Scissors
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Glue sticks
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Magazines, old books, or pre-printed images
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Colored pencils, crayons, or markers
Instructions:
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Begin by drawing or cutting out a “window” frame on paper.
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Ask your student: What would you see if you could look out this window into your imagination? A floating elephant? A city made of candy? A spaceship zooming past the moon?
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Let them create their dream scene using cut-outs, drawings, and color.
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Be sure they add personal or symbolic elements such as a pet, family member, or a favorite place.
Modifications for younger learners: Use larger images and basic shapes. Focus on one or two elements for simplicity.
Advanced version for older students: Include mixed media. Use tissue paper for stained-glass effects, or write a short story or poem to accompany the artwork. Encourage more detailed symbolism inspired by Chagall’s life and emotions.
Bonus Art Activity: Chagall in Motion
Marc Chagall’s paintings often feel like they’re floating. Capture this idea with a movement-based art activity!
Floating Figures Silhouette
Materials:
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Construction paper
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Chalk pastels or colored pencils
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Scissors
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White background paper
Instructions:
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Have students pose in a “floating” position on a large piece of construction paper (arms raised, legs bent).
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Trace the pose or cut out a silhouette.
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Glue the silhouette to a white or blue background.
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Decorate around the figure using bright colors and dreamlike shapes, such as stars, suns, birds, or abstract designs.
This movement-based project helps students consider body position, space, and energy while staying true to Chagall’s imaginative spirit.
Reflection and Journal Prompt
After creating their Chagall-inspired pieces, invite students to slow down and reflect.
Prompts:
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What story does your artwork tell?
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How does it reflect something you’ve dreamed, remembered, or imagined?
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What colors did you choose and why?
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How does this piece make you feel?
Reflection helps students connect with their art on a deeper level, reinforcing both emotional awareness and creative confidence. Journaling also supports writing skills, literacy, and expressive communication.
The Bottom Line: Let Chagall Spark Creativity in Your Homeschool
Marc Chagall teaches us that art can be magical, personal, and deeply moving, even if it breaks the rules.
By exploring his work, homeschoolers can embrace bold color choices, dreamlike storytelling, and symbolic expression. Your learners will grow as artists and thinkers through hands-on art projects and thoughtful reflection.
If you are looking for support, the Outside the Box Creation monthly art boxes have everything you need. Each art box contains a new theme each month, all supplies included, step-by-step lessons, a featured children’s book, and access to the digital art room for more enrichment.
Our monthly art boxes are designed to make homeschool art simple, meaningful, and joyful for both teachers and students.
Explore our monthly art curriculum kits and let your child’s imagination soar just like the floating figures in Paris Through the Window.
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