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This delightful work relates closely to the oil painting of the same subject which Chagall completed shortly after his return to Paris in September 1923 (Philadelphia Museum of Art). The lithograph was made a few months later in 1924. One of the artist’s earliest forays into the medium the image was executed on a single stone and an edition printed in black only. On this rare proof impression Chagall reworked the sheet almost entirely with gouache. Inflected with the artist’s earthy humour, the shape of the green sow in the foreground echoes that of the cheerfully clad peasant woman, who stoops to stop the trough from tipping over, bottom raised in the air. Chagall celebrates the woman’s closeness to the farm animal, a holy communion between human and beast, executed in the palette of a stained glass window.
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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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The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.
In addition to the catalogue description:
- the colours very vibrant. - with some minor losses of the light blue pigment in places. - with old spot glue at the upper sheet corners verso, with some very pale associated discoloration showing through recto. - a possible 10 mm. split in the upper right margin associated with the glue spot. - very soft handling creasing in the margins visible in raking light. - with a French custom's ink stamp, DOUNES EXPOSITION PARIS in a Circle, in purple verso. - with some pencil annotations verso. - two old paper hinges at the right sheet edge verso.