Description:Created for a short novel titled Maternité written by Marc Chagall's dear friend, Marcel Arland, this particular work became part of a series of 5 original engravings meant to compliment the text from which it was inspired. According to Sorlier, "these plates…should be seen more as a complement to the text than as an illustration" (12) .
Printed on June 10, 1926, by publisher Au Sans Pareil this piece is from an edition of 140 copies printed by Louis Fort, Paris on Van Gelder Zonen laid paper.
This scene from Maternité is perhaps the most poignant, as it depicts our heroine entering in to motherhood, a subject on which this entire novel is based. Chagall pays acute attention to detail with her surroundings: a few overturned crates, a barrel, and a ladder coupled by some chickens in the background. Alluding to the famed nativity scenes of the Christian faith, this piece creatively depicts the elements of Arland's narrative as well as being considered as its own work of art.
Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
It is fully documented and referenced in (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that I will accompany the final sale of the work) :
1) Cramer, Patrick. Marc Chagall, The Illustrated Books: Catalogue Raisonné, Geneva, 1995. Listed and illustrated as cat. no. 5 on pgs. 20-21.
2) Guse, Herausgegeben von Ernst-Gerhard. Marc Chagall - Druckgraphik, Stuttgart, 1985. Listed as cat. no. 78-82 on pgs. 268-9.
3) Kornfeld, Eberhard W. Marc Chagall, Catalogue raisonné de l'œuvre grave Vol. I: 1922-1966, Berne, 1971. Listed and illustrated as cat. no. 66 on pg. 144 and detailed on pg. 141.
4) Sorlier, Charles. Marc Chagall: The Illustrated Books, Paris 1990. Detailed and illustrated on pgs. 12, 20, and 23.
About the Framing:
This work is set in an ornate Baroque-inspired gold frame with delicately carved floral accents. The gold accentuates the curved lines and mimics action and movement, echoing Chagall's artistic hand in these works. The sculpted quality of the moulding also serves to enhance the textural elements and bring out subtle shading and lighting detail. Completed with white, linen-wrapped mats and a matching gold inner fillet, this work is set behind a Plexiglas cover. All framing materials used are archival to ensure lasting quality.
