Marc Chagall (1887, Vitebsk – 1985, Saint-Paul-de-Vence) was a French painter of Polish-Jewish origin. His original Russian name was Moische Chazkelevich Shagalov. His hometown of Vitebsk, including his immediate family, scenes from the Bible and from the circus were common subjects in his paintings. Further examination of his work showed that he used the same recurring symbols in his mosaics, glass-panes, and theatre sets he designed. Chagall is considered one of the most important painters of the 20th century. He is often delegated to the style of Expressionism and is also deemed a "painter-poet".