Color lithograph on wove paper
France, 1974
Marc Chagall (1887-1985) – Russian/French Expressionist painter
‘The Angel of Judgment (L’ange du jugement)’
Signed in pencil lower right ‘Marc Chagall’
Numbered in pencil lower left, from an edition of 200
Printed by Mourlot, Paris and
Published by the Society of Friends of the National Marc Chagall Biblical Message Museum, Nice
Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity
Sorlier 45
Full margins; framed
Image dimensions: 20 ¼ x 17 in. (51.4 x 43.2 cm.)
Sheet dimensions: 23 ? x 21 ½ in. (72 x 54.6 cm.)
Overall dimensions: 43 x 37 ¼ in. (109.2 x 94.6 cm.)
Very good condition

Depicting the progression of the biblical story of Adam & Eve Banished from Paradise, here we see the grandeur of the Angel of Judgment. Swooping down momentously into the center of the composition, we are able to feel and see the life in the Angel. Brightly colored in a flaming canary yellow to represent the wrath and force with which it is about to greet Adam and Eve, one can sense turmoil. However in classic Chagall fashion, the free flowing forms that compile the beautiful imagery allow for it all to appear as a curious dream.

Created in 1974, this color lithograph was executed by Charles Sorlier after an original work by Marc Chagall. Numbered 85 from an edition of 200, this work was printed by Mourlot, Paris and published by the Society of Friends of the National Marc Chagall Biblical Message Museum, Nice. This work is hand signed by Marc Chagall in pencil in the lower right margin with printed text "CH. SORLIER GRAV." in black in the lower left of the image. It is in overall good condition with no evidence of tears or repairs.

Marc Chagall (French/Russian, 1887-1985)

Honored for his distinct style and pioneering role among Jewish artists, Marc Chagall painted dream-like subjects rooted in personal history and Eastern European folklore. He worked in several mediums, including painting, printmaking, and book illustration, and his stained glass windows can be seen in New York, France, and Jerusalem. Chagall arrived in Paris in 1910 and began experimenting with Cubism, befriending painters Robert Delaunay and Fernand Léger. Chagall’s style has been described as a hybrid of Cubism, Fauvism, and Symbolism, and his supernatural subjects are thought to have significantly influenced the Surrealists. Though he actively engaged in the Parisian artistic community, art for Chagall was first and foremost a means of personal expression. He preferred to be considered separately from other artists, his imagery and allegory uniquely his own.