Marc Chagall, Tamar belle-fille de Juda (Tamar Daughter-in-Law of Judah), 1960, Original Lithograph

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Description

Marc chagall

tamar belle-fille de juda
(tamar daughter-in-law of judah)
from "drawings for the bible"

colour lithograph on paper
publisher: … Read more Marc chagall

tamar belle-fille de juda
(tamar daughter-in-law of judah)
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. # 243
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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 this lithograph, the artist captures one of the most complex and determined figures in the book of genesis. Part of his 1960 bible series, this color lithograph illustrates tamar’s bold decision to disguise herself by the roadside to secure her lineage. The composition is dominated by her figure in the foreground, rendered in striking washes of vibrant crimson and deep red. These colours symbolise her agency, fertility, and the heavy weight of the bloodline she seeks to preserve. Her face is obscured by a dark, textured application of ink, representing the veil of her disguise and her hidden identity. In the background, the sketchy, earthy brown form of judah approaches, unaware of her true persona. Through grainy textures and gestural lines, chagall masterfully depicts a tense, pivotal encounter defined by secrecy, survival, and the quiet power of a woman taking her destiny into her own hands. 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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