The enchanting gouache ‘Repos du clown avec le bouc vert’ was executed by Chagall during a visit to Washington D.C. in November 1971, as the artist unveiled a mosaic he had created for the home of close friends. At the twilight years of an illustrious and remarkably productive career and amidst monumental public commissions, Chagall’s more intimate work turned to nostalgic, dream-like visions reflecting his childhood, family life, and great romantic loves.

At the composition's core, a clown tenderly cradles a goat, an animal intricately linked to Chagall's memories of the rural Jewish town of Vitebsk in which he was raised. This poignant imagery stems from the artist's early recollection of an impoverished family's acrobatic street performance, a moment that profoundly impacted his perception of the life of an artist.

The circus, a recurring motif in his oeuvre, became inextricably linked to Chagall’s personal mythology. In contrast to his typically vibrant circus scenes, this work presents a solitary clown, offering a contemplative reflection on Chagall's chosen path. Both the clown and the goat serve as self-portraits of the artist, with Chagall placing himself behind the animal, underscoring his deep identification and love for nature and other living creatures.

‘Repos du clown avec le bouc vert’ remained with Chagall until the end of his life and was passed to his family upon his death.