| SPECIAL OFFER from private Collectors.. Framed. One of the first 100 proofs published with full-margins on Arches paper. Each Hand –signed in pencil with Marc Chagall initials M.CH at the lower right margin and numbered to 100. Each Etching was hand colored with Watercolor. . Framed. La Bible. Published by Teriade. Signed M CH . Etching with Watercolor. Ref: Cramer 30. In 1923, Marc Chagall fled the Soviet Union and settled in France where he began working with the Parisian art dealer and publisher Ambroise Vollard. After commissioning Chagall to illustrate Nicolai Gogol's Les Ames mortes (Dead Souls) and Jean de La Fontaine's Fables, Vollard asked the artist to do a series of prints based on the Bible.
Chagall began work on this series in 1931. Traveling to Palestine, he completed a number of studies in gouache that served as models for 'The Bible' series engravings. By 1939, at the time of Ambroise Vollard's death, Chagall had finished sixty-six etchings. Vollard's death, along with Chagall's imprisonement for a brief period under the Vichy government, put a hold on the creation of 'The Bible' series. Following this experience, Chagall moved to New York. In 1948 he returned to France permanently, where he continued with 'The Bible' series project, finishing the black and white portfolio in 1956.
The illustrated scenes come from twelve books of the Bible including The Book of Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations and Ezekiel. Chagall's images often focus on the complex relationship between God and man. Men are called by God to perform great acts, but remain very human, capable of weakness, doubt, deception, lust, and treachery. We see this in such prints as those that illustrate the story of Jacob, father of the twelve tribes of Israel, who deceives his father, Isaac, in order to receive a blessing in place of his brother. The story of Joseph, who is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. And the story of David, who lusts after Bathsheba, subsequently sending an innocent man to his death.
'The Bible' series, illustrated with 105 engravings made by Marc Chagall, between 1930 and 1955, was ultimately published by Teriade in 1956. |
