Watching Fiddler on the Roof for the first time in years this past weekend was the inspiration for this week’s column.  Even though, in the words of his recent biographer, Marc Chagall “loathed” the production, it still reminds me of him when I see it. Much of the imagery comes from his 1912-1913 painting The Fiddler, and throughout his work, his relationship to his own traditions is evident.

Read the whole thing here.