Marc Chagall, Job en prières (Job Praying), 1960, Original Lithograph

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Marc chagall

job en prières (job praying)
from "drawings for the bible"

colour lithograph on paper
publisher: verve, paris
year: … Read more Marc chagall

job en prières (job praying)
from "drawings for the bible"

colour lithograph on paper
publisher: verve, paris
year: 1960
size: 355 x 264 mm

on the back: another black and white original lithograph by marc chagall, mandatory in this edition.

very good condition: complete image (no crop, no trim), wonderful colours, a hardly perceivable bump in the corner (see image)

with gallery certificate

catalogue raisonné:
meret meyer and patrick cramer, "marc chagall, les livres illustrés", ref. # 42
charles sorlier and fernand mourlot, chagall lithographe, vol. Ii, ref. # 253
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chagall and the bible

marc chagall’s drawings for the bible, published in 1960 as a special double issue of the legendary art magazine verve, represents one of the most profound encounters between modern art and sacred text. While chagall had been obsessed with biblical themes since his 1931 trip to palestine, this specific suite allowed him to explore the narrative with a newfound technical mastery of colour lithography.

working closely with the master printer fernand mourlot, chagall created 24 vibrant color lithographs for this series. These works do not merely illustrate the old testament; they reimagine it through a dreamlike, jewish-eastern european lens. Chagall uses radiant blues, fiery reds, and golden yellows to transcend literal interpretation. The figures often float, defying gravity to suggest a spiritual reality that exists alongside the physical one.

for chagall, the bible was the "greatest source of poetry of all time." through these lithographs, he sought to make the ancient prophets and patriarchs feel human and immediate. Today, this collection is celebrated not just as a religious milestone, but as a pinnacle of 20th-century printmaking, showcasing how chagall could turn stone and ink into pure emotion.
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about this very artwork

in marc chagall’s job in prayer (mourlot 253), the artist concludes his 1960 bible series with a powerful study of faith and endurance. This colour lithograph presents the patriarch job at a moment of profound spiritual communion, following his long journey of suffering and eventual restoration.

the composition is dominated by a monumental, close-up profile of job, whose face and upraised hand are rendered in a striking, vibrant green. This choice of palette is deeply symbolic; in chagall's visual language, green often represents growth, renewal, and the flourishing of life, suggesting that job has emerged from his trials with a revitalised spirit. His large, dark eye gazes upwards with an intensity that reflects his unwavering devotion. Above him, a small, white angel with outstretched wings hovers within a dark, textured void, signifying the divine presence that has remained with him through the darkness. The grainy, speckled background and bold, gestural lines create an atmosphere of cosmic mystery. Through this expressive use of colour and form, chagall transforms job from a figure of sorrow into a timeless emblem of hope and spiritual resilience. I have official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs,
designer records,
or other literature sources and take full responsibility for any authenticity issues arising
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