Marc Chagall, Le Visage d'Israël, 1960, Original Lithograph

Details

Description

Marc chagall

le visage d'israël
(the face of israel)
from "drawings for the bible"

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

le visage d'israël
(the face of israel)
from "drawings for the bible"

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

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. # 231
___

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.
___

about this very artwork

in le visage d’israël (1960), cataloged as mourlot 231, chagall presents a deeply contemplative and symbolic portrait that serves as a spiritual anchor for the drawings for the bible suite. The work is characterized by a striking, ethereal blue palette, which evokes a sense of timelessness and divinity.

rather than a literal depiction of a specific patriarch, the face represents the collective soul and endurance of a people. The features are soft yet weathered, emerging from fluid, painterly strokes that showcase chagall’s mastery of the lithographic stone. It remains one of his most evocative explorations of faith and identity. 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
misattribution See less