Chagall, Composition (Cramer 61), Le Plafond de l'Opéra de Paris (after)

1965

This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled La Danse (The Dance), from the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 147, originates from the 1964 edition published by Maeght E...

This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Les Amoureux au Gris (The Lovers in Gray), from the album Chagall, originates from the 1957 edition published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1957. This intimate and poetic composition reveals Chagall’s enduring fascination with love as both a personal and universal theme. Les Amoureux au Gris presents two lovers tenderly united against a soft, monochromatic background, their forms gently intertwined in a suspended moment of emotion and serenity. The subdued palette of grays enhances the dreamlike atmosphere, evoking nostalgia and the quiet beauty of devotion. Through its delicate tonal harmonies and lyrical symbolism, the work exemplifies Chagall’s belief that love transcends time, space, and circumstance—a central tenet that defines his artistic legacy. Executed as a lithograph on velin paper, this work measures 9.06 x 7.875 inches (23.01 x 20 cm). Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition reflects the extraordinary craftsmanship of the Mourlot Freres atelier, renowned for its close collaboration with Chagall and for achieving unmatched brilliance and subtlety in color lithography. Artwork Details: Artist: Marc Chagall (1887–1985) Title: Les Amoureux au Gris (The Lovers in Gray), from Chagall, 1957 Medium: Lithograph on velin paper Dimensions: 9.06 x 7.875 inches (23.01 x 20 cm) Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1957 Publisher: Maeght Editeur, Paris Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Catalogue raisonne references: Chagall, Marc, and Julien Cain. Chagall Lithographe. Andre Sauret, Editeur, 1960, illustration 194. Cramer, Patrick, and Meret Meyer. Marc Chagall: Catalogue Raisonne Des Livres Illustres. P. Cramer ed., 1995, illustration 34. Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the album Chagall, published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, 1957 Notes: Excerpted from the album (translated from French), This album was printed by Drager Freres in Montrouge on behalf of Maeght Editeur, 13, Rue de Teheran, Paris VIII. The original color lithographs were drawn by Mourlot Freres. The photographs of the works printed are of Y. Hervochon, M. Routhier, Draeger. Copyright 1957. About the Publication: The 1957 album Chagall, published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, stands among the most celebrated collaborations between Marc Chagall and the great Parisian ateliers of the mid-20th century. The album features a series of color lithographs that capture Chagall’s poetic world of memory, faith, and love through luminous tones and expressive line. Each lithograph embodies the artist’s mastery of the medium, where the transparency of pigment and fluidity of form fuse into a language of visual music. Guided by the technical expertise of Mourlot Freres, these works convey Chagall’s painterly spontaneity and emotional depth with remarkable fidelity. The Maeght album remains a touchstone in modern printmaking, symbolizing the creative dialogue between artist, publisher, and master printer that defined the golden age of the French art book. About the Artist: Marc Chagall (1887–1985) was a Belarus-born French painter, printmaker, and designer whose visionary imagination, radiant color, and deeply poetic symbolism made him one of the most beloved and influential artists of the 20th century. Rooted in the imagery of his Jewish heritage and the memories of his childhood in Vitebsk, Chagall’s art wove together themes of faith, love, folklore, and fantasy with a dreamlike modern sensibility. His unique style—merging elements of Cubism, Fauvism, Expressionism, and Surrealism—defied categorization, transforming ordinary scenes into lyrical meditations on memory and emotion. Influenced by Russian icon painting, medieval religious art, and the modern innovations of artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Georges Braque, Chagall developed a profoundly personal visual language filled with floating figures, vibrant animals, musicians, and lovers that symbolized the transcendent power of imagination and love. During his early years in Paris, he became an integral part of the Ecole de Paris circle, forming friendships with Amedeo Modigliani, Fernand Leger, and Sonia Delaunay, and his creative spirit resonated with that of his peers and successors—Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray—artists who, like Chagall, sought to push the boundaries of perception, emotion, and form. Over a prolific career that spanned painting, printmaking, stained glass, ceramics, and stage design, Chagall brought an unparalleled poetic sensibility to modern art, infusing even the most abstract subjects with human warmth and spiritual depth. His works are held in the most prestigious museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Centre Pompidou, the Tate, and the Guggenheim, where they continue to inspire generations of artists and collectors. The highest price ever paid for a Marc Chagall artwork is approximately $28.5 million USD, achieved in 2017 at Sotheby’s New York for Les Amoureux (1928). Marc Chagall Les Amoureux...