The rich iconographic and stylistic references in this painting demonstrate Chagall’s multiple allegiances during his first Parisian period. The artist has quickly absorbed the lessons of Cubism, evident in the fragmented representation of himself holding a palette, and naturalistically depicts the Eiffel Tower, visible through the window on the left, clearly placing himself in the capital of the avant-garde art world. The seven fingers on the artist’s hand relate to a Yiddish saying whereby to do something with seven fingers means to do it very well and with all one’s heart. However, Chagall eschews symbolism for a formal explanation of the self portrait: “The painting was made in La Ruche. I was in top shape then. I believe I painted it in one week. It’s my painting ‘To Russia, donkeys and others’ on an easel. I was influenced by the constructions of the Cubists, but did not renounce by previous... [http://arthistorynewsreport.blogspot.nl/2017/02/chagall-colour-and-music.html]