Marc Chagall, Ève maudite par Dieu (Eve Cursed by God), Nude, 1960, Original Lithograph

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Marc chagall

ève maudite par dieu
(eve cursed by god)
from "drawings for the bible"

colour lithograph on paper
publisher: … Read more Marc chagall

ève maudite par dieu
(eve cursed by god)
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. # 236
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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 striking lithograph from his 1960 bible series, marc chagall offers a raw and visceral interpretation of the moment god castigates eve. The composition is defined by a bold, symbolic use of color that heightens the emotional stakes of the narrative.

god is rendered with a startling, verdant green face, appearing less like a distant monarch and more like a primordial, elemental force emerging from the shadows of eden. His hand reaches out in a gesture that feels both like a physical weight and a verbal decree, pressing down upon the scene.

in sharp contrast, eve is bathed in a deep, saturated red, signaling her humanity, her shame, and perhaps the impending "pain in childbearing" described in the biblical text. Her body is coiled and defensive, her eyes closed as if she is physically shrinking under the divine gaze. The dark, charcoal-like textures surrounding the figures suggest the encroaching darkness of a world no longer perfect, while the hebrew lettering in the corner anchors the scene in its ancient, sacred roots. It is a masterful study of the tension between the terrestrial and the divine. 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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