Chagall Couture. A tribute to the artist

The exhibition Chagall Couture offers a contemporary reinterpretation of Marc Chagall’s work through textile design. It is the outcome of a two-year collaboration with the students and professors of the National Diploma in Crafts and Design (DN MADE) at the Lycée Les Coteaux in Cannes, a course specialising in stage costume design.

To create this ensemble of 76 pieces, divided into five collections, the students drew inspiration from a selection of works by Chagall that reflect his unique relationship with colour and material, as well as his great mastery of artistic techniques. These include the painted cycle of the Biblical Message, the centrepiece of the museum’s permanent collection; the series of etchings that masterfully illustrate Gogol’s Dead Souls and La Fontaine’s Fables; as well as the stained-glass study for The Blue Rose.

Captivated by the world of performance and music, Marc Chagall designed sets and costumes for the Moscow State Jewish Kamerny Theatre in 1920, for Ballet Theatre in New York with Aleko (1942) and The Firebird (1945), for the Opéra Garnier in Paris with Daphnis and Chloe (1958), and subsequently for the Metropolitan Opera in New York with The Magic Flute (1966). For the painter, costume played a full part in bringing the stage to life and contributed to the emergence of a genuine “total work of art”. Deeply sensitive to matter, Chagall gave fabric a prominent place, incorporating it into more formal experiments, into the design of monumental works such as stained-glass windows and mosaics, and into the collages he created in the late 1960s.

The costume collection thus resonates with this essential aspect of the artist’s approach. Similarly to Chagall, the students set out to translate into textile the effects of light and shade, and the vibrations and nuances of colour. Drawing on a wide range of techniques and secular crafts – sewing, embroidery and drawing – the students establish a fruitful dialogue between the classical forms of costume history and the painter’s work, between tradition and modernity.

The exhibition is presented in two parts: the first, from 10 October 2026 to 18 January 2027, is devoted to the etchings for Dead Souls and to the colours of the Biblical Message; the second, from 6 February to 23 May 2027, focuses on the illustrations for La Fontaine’s Fables and on the major figures of the Biblical Message.

A catwalk show of the various creations, organised by the students, will be held on the occasion of the European Night of Museums on Saturday 22 May 2027.

A partnership between the Marc Chagall National Museum and DN MADE SPECTACLE Stage Costumes

As part of their remit for artistic and cultural education, the National Museums of the 20th Century in the Alpes-Maritimes are developing a number of initiatives aimed at raising awareness amongst the widest possible audience about art and heritage. Among these, contributing to students’ professional development is a key focus, as demonstrated by this cultural partnership, which combines an encounter with Chagall’s work, an exploration of the various roles within the museum, and practical exhibition experience within the unique setting of a national museum.

The DN MADE (National Diploma in Arts and Design) is a three-year bachelor’s degree. It aims to equip students with solid professional knowledge and skills across the various specialisms within arts and design. The DN MADE with a specialisation in PERFORMING ARTS, focusing on stage costume design at Lycée Les Coteaux, combines an artistic approach with a technical one, emphasising an ongoing dialogue between historical reconstruction and contemporary creation. The course covers all the technical, sociological, dramaturgical and aesthetic aspects of costume creation, from design through to production. The programme places significant emphasis on technical skills and aims to foster creativity and innovation.

DNMADE Team

Artistic and Technical Direction:
Elisabeth Bastardo, instructor in Applied Arts, Design, and Crafts
Christine Buard, instructor in Costume Design
Sophie Solohub, instructor in Costume Design

Museum Team

Curators:
Anne Dopffer, Director of the National Museums of the 20th Century in the Alpes-Maritimes
Grégory Couderc, Heritage Curator at the Marc Chagall National Museum
Gaïdig Lemarié, Head of Cultural Partnerships for the National Museums of the 20th Century in the Alpes-Maritimes

_{Images in the main text: Marc Chagall, Noah’s Ark (detail), 1961–1966, oil on canvas, 236 × 234 cm; The Song of Songs II (detail), 1957, oil on canvas-mounted paper, 139 × 164 cm. Donated by Marc and Valentina Chagall, Marc Chagall National Museum, Nice. Photo: Patrick Massabo. © Adagp, Paris, 2026.
Header:  A student on the DN MADE course wearing her design in front of Marc Chagall’s work, *Jacob’s Dream* (detail), 1960–1966, oil on canvas, 195 cm × 278 cm, donated by Marc and Valentina Chagall, 1966, Marc Chagall National Museum, Nice. Photo: National Museums of the 20th Century of the Alpes-Maritimes / Patrick Massabo © ADAGP, Paris, 2026. 
Poster: A DN MADE student wearing her design in front of Marc Chagall’s work, *Noah’s Ark* (detail), 1961–1966, oil on canvas, 236 cm x 234 cm, donated by Marc and Valentina Chagall, 1966, Marc Chagall National Museum, Nice. Photo: National Museums of the 20th Century of the Alpes-Maritimes/Patrick Massabo © ADAGP, Paris, 2026.}