L'Ange

Lithograph, 1956

Publisher : Verve (Paris)

Printer : Mourlot (Paris)

Catalog : [Mourlot 120 ; Cramer 25]

Image dimensions : 35.50 cm. × 26.00 cm. (13.98 in. × 10.24 in.)

Paper dimensions : 35.50 cm. × 26.00 cm. (13.98 in. × 10.24 in.)

Not signed
Certificate of authenticity
Excellent condition

Marc Chagall (1887-1985) painted angels throughout his career. The subject first appears in a 1917 work, L'Apparition (private collection), inspired by a dream in which, as he wrote in his memoir My Life, "a winged being descends with dazzle and thunder." For him, the angel connects us to the spiritual world and to art itself. Christian imagery is full of angels guiding the Gospel writers, and for Chagall the angel stands for an inspiration that is supernatural, even divine. Like art, Chagall's angel carries a message, which is why he sometimes portrayed himself as one.
This lithograph explores one of Chagall's richest themes, a spiritual subject that reaches beyond everyday reality. His sweeping brushstrokes suggest the wings with a touch that is both light and confident. Chagall uses just two colors to heighten the impact of this pared-down composition. Sunny yellow fills the face and spills over the top, as if to suggest light. This beautiful print comes from a major 1960 publication by Verve, the groundbreaking art and literary magazine founded by Tériade, which featured the greatest artists of the day, including Matisse, Picasso, Klee, Miró, Léger, Braque and, of course, Chagall.

Ref : B33