Marc Chagall was an early modernist painter, regarded for his vibrant use of color. Known as one of the greatest figurative painters, Chagall was a perennial outsider, who used his art as a form of social commentary, "[inventing] his own visual language that recorded the thrill and terror of the twentieth century."

In 1960, Marc Chagall created Roses et mimosas (Nice et la Côte d'Azur), a gouache, pastel, and colored crayon on paper. This work reflects Chagall’s fascination with the luminous landscapes of the French Riviera, capturing the region’s lush flora and dreamlike atmosphere. It exemplifies his deep connection to nature, using vibrant colors and organic forms to evoke the harmony between human emotion and the natural world.