Title: Chloe is Carried off by the Methymneans, from: Daphnis and Chloe | Enlèvement de Chloé, 1961
Technique: Original Hand Signed and Numbered Lithograph in Colours on Arches Wove Paper
Paper size: 53.6 x 75.5 cm. / 21.1 x 29.7 in.
Image size: 42.7 x 64 cm. / 16.8 x 25.2 in.
Additional Information: This original lithograph in colours is hand signed in pencil by the artist “Marc Chagall” at the lower right margin.
It is hand numbered in pencil from the edition of 60, at the lower left margin.
This is one of the 42 plates that are part of the Daphnis and Chloe series of Marc Chagall.
Our impression is from the deluxe edition of 60 hand signed and numbered impressions.
There was a further book edition (not signed, not numbered and without margins of 250 impressions).
It was published by Tériade Éditeur, Paris in 1961.
The paper bears the Arches watermark.
The story of Daphnis and Chloe, a pastoral elegy attributed to the 3rd century Greek poet Longus, dates from the second century A.D.
It is a classical romance involving the adventures of two foundling children raised by adopted parents who are humble shepherds in the idyllic setting of the Isle of Lesbos.
The discovery of the infants who have been left exposed takes place at different times, but in both circumstances their clothing and rich tokens found with them suggest the foundlings may be of noble birth. In each instance the shepherd who finds the baby is alone and tempted to steal their treasure and leave them to fate, but instead bows to the paternal instinct to nurture and raise the child as his own.
As Daphnis and Chloe grow to be young adults tending their adopted parents’ sheep and goats on the sun-drenched Grecian hillsides and pastures, they discover that their friendship is turning to love but, in their innocence, they do not know how to proceed.
Together they experience many trials and tribulations, protected throughout by the god Pan, before finally realizing their true fate.
Daphnis and Chloe have served through the ages as the inspiration for nearly every love story that has followed including Romeo and Juliet.
In 1959 Efstratios Tériade, the publisher of the vastly influential 20th century art review Verve, approached Chagall suggesting to him that he undertake a new project, illustration of the prose romance Daphnis & Chloe.
The idea of reviving and illustrating this story, which had been widely popular primarily in France and England throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, is one that greatly appealed to Chagall.
He began his preparation by making two trips to Greece, traveling there to absorb the inspiration of the Greek landscape. Over the course of three years Chagall worked on this project creating forty-two lithographs. These has since been heralded as one of Chagall’s greatest graphic achievement. In the introduction to the set in the Mourlot catalogue raisonné it is referred to as “the most important graphic work that Marc Chagall has created thus far.”
Provenance: Private New York collection.
Literature:
1. Mourlot, F. & Sorlier, C. (1998). Chagall: The Lithographs (Catalogue Raisonne). D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers, Inc.
Reference: Mourlot 327
2. Cramer, P. (1995). The Illustrated Books of Marc Chagall. Geneva: Galerie Cramer.
Reference: Cramer 46
Technique: Original Hand Signed and Numbered Lithograph in Colours on Wove Paper
Paper size: 83.2 x 63 cm. / 32.8 x 24.9 in.
Image size: 68.7 x 51.5 cm. / 27 x 20.3 in.
Additional Information: This original lithograph in colours is hand signed in pencil by the artist “Marc Chagall” at the lower right margin.
It is also numbered in pencil from the edition of 50, at the lower left margin.
This work was printed in 1974 in a limited edition of 50 signed and numbered impressions.
Literature:
Mourlot, F., & Sorlier, C., (1984). Chagall: The Lithographs V: 1974-1979 (Catalogue Raisonné). D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers, Inc.
Reference: Mourlot 717
Condition. Very good condition. The sheet very slightly reduced by 10 mm. on the left edge.
Technique: Original Hand Signed and Numbered Lithograph in Colours on Rives BFK Wove Paper
Paper size: 76.2 x 56.2 cm. / 30 x 22 in.
Additional Information. This original lithograph in colours is hand signed in pencil by the artist “Marc Chagall” at the lower right margin.
It is also hand numbered in pencil from the edition of 50, at the lower left margin.
It was printed by Fernand Mourlot, Paris in 1964 and was published by Éditions Maeght, Paris in the same year.
The paper bears the BFK watermark in the lower right corner.
Literature: Mourlot, F., & Sorlier, C., (1969). Chagall: The Lithographs III (Catalogue Raisonné). D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers, Inc.
Reference: Mourlot 419
Condition: Very good condition. Very pale, unobtrusive time-staining. A crescent short tears in the left sheet edge. Soft handling creases along the upper right sheet edge. Remnants of adhesive tape, verso.
Title: The Talmud Teacher, from: My Life | Der Talmudlehrer, aus: Mein Leben, 1922
Technique: Original Hand Signed and Numbered Etching with Drypoint on laid Paper
Paper size: 45.1 x 34.9 cm. / 17.7 x 13.7 in.
Image size: 24.8 x 18.6 cm. / 9.8 x 7.3 in.
Additional Information: This original etching with drypoint is hand signed in pencil by the artist “Marc Chagall” at the lower right corner.
It is also hand numbered in pencil from the edition of 110, at the lower left margin.
There were 84 impressions on laid paper and a further 26 impressions on Japan paper.
It was published by Paul Cassirer, Berlin in 1923.
Note: The work was part of Chagall’s important and renowned series “Mein Leben” (My Life), which included different etchings, all relating to significant events in his life. It was intended to illustrate his first autobiography.
Literature: Kornfeld, E.W. (1971). Marc Chagall – Catalogue Raisonné de l’ouevre gravé. Vol I 1922-1966. Bern: Kornfeld & Klipstein.
Reference: Kornfeld 9
Condition: Very good condition. The sheet with light toning along the left sheet edge. A foxmark in the lower margin. Very soft handling creases at the sheet edges. Remnants of hinging along the upper sheet edge.
Title: The Pantheon, from: Derrière le Miroir | Le Panthéon, 1954
Technique: Original Lithograph on Wove Paper
Paper size: 38.2 x 27.6 cm. / 15 x 10.9 in.
Image size: 35 x 27 cm. / 13.8 x 10.6 in.
Additional Information: This is a beautiful original lithograph by Marc Chagall. It was printed in 1954 as part of the ‘Derrière le Miroir’ publication of 11 lithographs to accompany the exhibition titled “Paris” held at Galerie Maeght in 1954.
This is from the limited edition of 2,500 unsigned impressions.
It was printed by Mourlot, Paris, and published by Maeght Éditeur, Paris in 1954.
Literature: Mourlot, F., and Sorlier, C., (1998). Chagall: The Lithographs (Catalogue Raisonné). D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers, Inc.
Reference: Mourlot 95
Title: The Carrousel of the Louvre, from: Derrière le Miroir | La Carrousel du Louvre, 1954
Technique: Original Lithograph in Colours on Wove Paper
Paper size: 38.2 x 27.6 cm. / 15 x 10.9 in.
Image size: 35 x 27 cm. / 13.8 x 10.6 in.
Additional Information: This is a beautiful original lithograph in colours by Marc Chagall. It was printed in 1954 as part of the Derrière le Miroir publication of 11 lithographs to accompany the exhibition titled “Paris” held at Galerie Maeght in 1954.
This is from the limited edition of 2,500 unsigned impressions.
It was printed by Mourlot, Paris, and published by Maeght Éditeur, Paris in 1954.
Literature: Mourlot, F., and Sorlier, C., (1998). Chagall: The Lithographs (Catalogue Raisonné). D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers, Inc.
Reference: Mourlot 103
MARC CHAGALL 1887-1985
[Shagal, Mark, Zakharovich, Moses]
Vitebsk, Belarus 1887-1985 Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France (Russian/French)
Title: Mother and Child at the Eiffel Tower, from: Derrière le Miroir | Mère et enfant à la Tour Eiffel, 1954
Technique: Original Lithograph on Wove Paper
Paper size: 38.2 x 27.6 cm. / 15 x 10.9 in.
Image size: 35 x 27 cm. / 13.8 x 10.6 in.
Additional Information: This is a beautiful original lithograph by Marc Chagall. It was printed in 1954 as part of the ‘Derrière le Miroir’ publication of 11 lithographs to accompany the exhibition titled “Paris” held at Galerie Maeght in 1954.
This is from the limited edition of 2,500 unsigned impressions.
It was printed by Mourlot, Paris, and published by Maeght Éditeur, Paris in 1954.
Literature: Mourlot, F., and Sorlier, C., (1998). Chagall: The Lithographs (Catalogue Raisonné). D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers, Inc.
Reference: Mourlot 94
Marc Chagall (1887–1985) was a Russian-Belarusian-French painter of Jewish origin who was born in Belarus, at that time part of the Russian Empire. He is associated with the modern movements after impressionism. Born in 1887, his Jewish origins and rural upbringing in Russia had a lasting effect on Chagall’s life. His poetic mastery of dreams, memories and folklore dominated his work and commitment to original printmaking throughout his life. Chagall was 63 years old when he first came to Mourlot in 1950 to study the technique of colour lithography with Charles Sorlier. Already a famous artist with nothing to prove, Chagall nevertheless worked tirelessly to master the nuances and subtleties of this demanding medium for his own satisfaction. Marc Chagall fabricated a mystical world of lovers, musicians and artists in his work. He chose lithography as a print medium that could offer him almost unlimited painterly freedom to explore his world. “Something would have been lacking in my life if, in addition to my passion for colour, I had not been involved with engraving or lithography…Each time I held a lithographic stone or copperplate in my hand I thought I was touching a talisman. It seemed to me that I could put all my joys and sorrows in it…..Everything that touched my life through the years, births, deaths, weddings, flowers, animals, birds, the poor workers, my parents, lovers in the night, the biblical prophets, on the street, at home, in the temple and in heaven. And as I grew older, the tragedy of life within us and around us.” Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall (1887–1985) was a Russian-Belarusian-French painter of Jewish origin who was born in Belarus, at that time part of the Russian Empire. He is associated with the modern movements after impressionism. Born in 1887, his Jewish origins and rural upbringing in Russia had a lasting effect on Chagall’s life. His poetic mastery of dreams, memories and folklore dominated his work and commitment to original printmaking throughout his life. Chagall was 63 years old when he first came to Mourlot in 1950 to study the technique of colour lithography with Charles Sorlier. Already a famous artist with nothing to prove, Chagall nevertheless worked tirelessly to master the nuances and subtleties of this demanding medium for his own satisfaction. Marc Chagall fabricated a mystical world of lovers, musicians and artists in his work. He chose lithography as a print medium that could offer him almost unlimited painterly freedom to explore his world. \"Something would have been lacking in my life if, in addition to my passion for colour, I had not been involved with engraving or lithography...Each time I held a lithographic stone or copperplate in my hand I thought I was touching a talisman. It seemed to me that I could put all my joys and sorrows in it.....Everything that touched my life through the years, births, deaths, weddings, flowers, animals, birds, the poor workers, my parents, lovers in the night, the biblical prophets, on the street, at home, in the temple and in heaven. And as I grew older, the tragedy of life within us and around us.\" Marc Chagall
