Marc Chagall, Agar dans le désert (Hagar in the Desert), Nude, 1960, Original Lithograph

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Marc chagall

agar dans le désert (hagar in the desert)
from "drawings for the bible"

colour lithograph on paper
publisher: … Read more Marc chagall

agar dans le désert (hagar in the desert)
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. # 241
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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

marc chagall’s hagar in the desert is a deeply moving lithograph that captures a moment of profound isolation and ultimate redemption. Created for his 1960 bible series, the work depicts the egyptian handmaid hagar and her son ishmael after they have been cast out into the wilderness of beersheba.

the central focus is the maternal bond under duress. Hagar is shown cradling the limp, vulnerable form of her son, their figures intertwined in a circular, protective embrace. Chagall utilizes bold, gestural red strokes against a textured, earthy background to emphasize the heat of the desert and the raw, biological urgency of survival. The use of red here symbolises both the life-blood of the child and the mother’s desperate love.

in the upper left, a small, ethereal angel appears, rendered in delicate black outlines. This represents the moment of divine intervention when god hears the boy’s cries and reveals a well of water to hagar. This juxtaposition—the heavy, red-tinged struggle of the earthly figures against the light, soaring presence of the celestial messenger—perfectly encapsulates the biblical theme of hope emerging from despair. Through these simple yet powerful forms, chagall transforms a story of suffering into a timeless icon of resilience and protection. 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
from
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