The present lot is a rare proof extensively hand-coloured by the artist in pastel and gives a fascinating insight into the artist's creative process. The master printer Charles Sorlier, with whom Chagall collaborated at the legendary Imprimerie Mourlot from the early 1950s until his death in 1985, described the artist’s method in making lithographs as follows:
“Chagall normally begins the process of producing a lithograph by drawing a composition in black on stone, zinc or transfer paper…The black is nearly always the complete skeleton of the work. After printing some proofs, he adds colour, in watercolour or pastel, thus permitting himself a choice between several versions. The maquette established, Chagall then executes the principal plates. Next he and I do our colour tests at the printing press, tests which are subsequently submitted to him. He nearly always goes over them again, correcting them and adding other tones. New trial proofs are usually necessary before the definitive adjustments. Only when he finds the proof entirely to his satisfaction does he sign the order to print [the edition]." (C. Sorlier, Chagall Lithographs, 1974-79, Monte Carlo, 1984, p. 12).
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Marc Chagall, Colour of Life: Prints and Artist's Books Formerly from the Artist's Estate
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Condition report
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In addition to the catalogue description:
- on BFK Rives wove paper. - a little surface dirt in the band of exposed paper to the right of the figure. - some handling marks mostly near the sheet edges. - a small brown stain at the upper left edge. - some handling marks and surface dirt to the sheet verso. - with some annotations in pencil at the lower right corner verso.