Marc Chagall (1887-1985) c 1920

Once dubbed "the quintessential Jewish artist of the 20th Century," Marc Zakharovich Chagall was a Russian-

born artist who worked in just about every artistic medium, including fine prints, etchings and lithographs, which

we celebrate here.

The Marc Chagall lithographs which were not religious in nature often center on the topic of emigration as he

escaped Russia to flee anti-Semitism, went to Europe and then escaped Nazi persecution by going to New York.

Other recurrent themes were illustrations of village life in his native Russia, and scenes of Paris, his adopted city.

Not easily put into a single artistic category, Chagall is most widely known for his whimsical and colourful

lithographs.

David and Bathsheba Portfolio: The Bible Lithographs 1956 O Original lithograph Mourlot 132

Framed Size: 20" x 24" (51 x 61 cm) Image: 10 3/8" x 14" (26.3 x 35.6 cm) Sheet: 10 3/8" x 14" (26.3 x 35.6 cm)

David and Bathsheba (The Kings) 1956 Apart from his themes of prophets, angels and the story

of Moses, in his first bible cycle, Chagall also addressed the theme of kings. The by far most

popular and most loved lithograph from the two bible cycles shows the faces of two lovers,

David and Bathsheba, blended into one face – an allegory for the two sides dwelling in

everything: The hard and the soft, the good and the bad, the masculine and the feminine

side.

David’s prominently drawn, bicoloured hand also catches the beholder’s eye: It softly plays

the harp, but also rose against Goliath and even against God. Two friendly angels (one of

them on the left-hand side of the picture seems to be caressing David’s face) signal: God is

benevolent towards David, despite all misconduct.

Original lithograph in colours (Mourlot 132 On the reverse: another original lithograph, plain-coloured (M 135)

35 x 26 cm - 14 x 10 ¼ in. (sheet). 6500 unsigned copies from the book edition on strong velin paper. In addition,

75 pencil-signed and numbered copies on Arches wove paper were published. Published by: Éditions de la Revue

Verve, Tériade, Paris Printed by: Atelier Mourlot, Paris Remarks: Biblical reference: 2. Sam 11, 1-12, 24

In 1956, the French art critic and publisher Tériade brought out a special issue of the legendary art magazine

Verve, which was exclusively devoted to one of Marc Chagalls major themes: The Bible. For this outstanding issue,

Chagall composed 18 full-page colour lithographs and 12 in black and white. For his "Bible I"Marc Chagall focused

on characters from the Old Testament such as the Founding Fathers, the Kings, the Prophets and Angels. Four

years later, in 1960, the follow-up issue "Illustrations for The Bible" was published, with another 24 gorgeous

colour lithographs. Documentation / References: [1] Cain, Julien, and Mourlot, Fernand. Chagall Lithograph [I],

André Sauret, Monte Carlo 1960, pages 149 to 160, numbers 132 and 135 [2] Sorlier, Charles. Chagall. Le livre des

livres / Illustrated books.Éditions Sauret et Trinckvel, 1990, page 206, no. 61

In 1956, the etchings on Biblical themes that Chagall had begun for Vollard in 1930, left unpublished (though

printed and stored) when he escaped from the Gestapo in 1939, were finally published by the Swiss publisher

Teriade, augmented by the pieces that Chagall had added between 1952 and 1956. To celebrate the occasion,

Teriade commissioned a set of lithographs on Biblical themes for a special number of the deluxe art review Verve

(also published by Teriade) that included heliogravure reproductions of all of Chagall's Bible etchings. The result

was some of the most intense colour lithographs that Chagall ever made. These lithographs (12 of which have an

additional black-and-white lithograph printed on the reverse) show Chagall reveling in colour but always sensitive

to the themes of the stories he picks to illustrate. In addition to the edition of 6500 published in Verve (from which

ours came), there was also a deluxe edition of 75 on paper with large margins signed and numbered by Chagall.

Illustrated in the catalogue for the 1973 Musee National Message Biblique Marc Chagall inauguration. This is a

very hard piece to find. One of Chagall's most important prints, it tends to get full page illustrations in books that

present most of Chagall's works in smaller illustrations. It is reproduced in colour on the rear cover of Charles

Sorlier, Chagall: Le Livre des livres / Illustrated Books. It is also reproduced full-size in colour as the frontispiece

of the book and again full-size and in colour on page 207 to illustrate the 1956 Issue of Verve devoted to The

Bible.

"Blue Horse With Couple" (Cheval bleu au Couple) 1982 O

original lithograph from the year 1982, exactly as referenced in Mourlot's catalogue raisonné. (Mourlot no. 993)

One of 15000 unsigned copies for the book edition on smooth velin paper. In addition, 50 pencil-signed and

numbered copies on Arches wove paper with full margins were published. Published by: Maeght Editions, Paris

Remarks: Text on the reverse, as published Center page from Derriere le Miroir, no. 250, 1982. Published by

Maeght Editeur in Paris Mourlot ref. no 993 38 x 28 cm / 15" x 11" (sheet) Documentation / References:

Sorlier, Charles. Chagall Lithographs [VI] 1980-1985. André Sauret, Monte-Carlo 1986, pages 76-77, No. 993

“Chasse a l’Oiseau Bleu” 1969

”Les Adolescents” 1975

“Paris Opera House Ceiling”

”Carmen”

Marc Chagall lithograph poster "Peintures Aquarelles Dessins" O

During the late 1940's and throughout the 1950's, Marc Chagall created a series of posters at the atelier of

Mourlot Freres. This lithograph offered was printed by Mourlot in 1959, reproducing the Chagall poster in a

smaller size. The total sheet measures 12 x 9 inches (approximately 300 x 230mm). Not signed.