Marc Chagall

The Tree of Knowledge - Lithograph by Marc Chagall - 1960

1960

Color lithograph realized by Marc Chagall in 1960 to illustrate "The Bible".  Edition of 6500, published by Tériade in no. 33 and 34 of the Art Magazine Verve. Printed by Mourlot a...

Héliogravure on brown-toned paper, so signature. On bot sheets, recto and verso. Edition of 6500 unsigned copies. Printed by Mourlot and published by Tériade, Paris. Ref. Mourlot,...

This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Paradis I (Paradise I), from Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), Verve: Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. VIII, No. 33–34, originates from the September 1956 issue published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1956. This radiant and dreamlike composition envisions the Garden of Eden as a symbol of divine harmony and innocence, where life, color, and spirit coexist in perfect unity. Through lyrical forms and glowing tonal contrasts, Chagall expresses a vision of creation that transcends narrative, merging spiritual wonder with emotional warmth. Paradis I embodies the artist’s enduring fascination with the sacred origins of life and the poetic balance between the earthly and the eternal. The piece forms part of Chagall’s celebrated series of lithographs and drawings created for Dessins Pour La Bible, a monumental project uniting art, scripture, and mysticism in one of the artist’s most important achievements. Executed as a lithograph on velin du Marais paper, this work measures 14 x 10.5 inches (35.56 x 26.67 cm). Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the superb craftsmanship of the Mourlot Freres atelier, renowned for its collaborations with the greatest modern masters of the 20th century. Artwork Details: Artist: Marc Chagall (1887–1985) Title: Paradis I (Paradise I), from Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), Verve: Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. VIII, No. 33–34, September 1956 Medium: Lithograph on velin du Marais paper Dimensions: 14 x 10.5 inches (35.56 x 26.67 cm) Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1956 Publisher: Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Catalogue raisonne references: Cain, Julien, and Fernand Mourlot. Chagall Lithographe. Andre Sauret, Editeur, 1960, illustrations 117–46. Cramer, Patrick, and Meret Meyer. Marc Chagall: Catalogue Raisonne Des Livres Illustrés. P. Cramer ed., 1995, illustration 25. Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), Verve: Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. VIII, No. 33–34, published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, 1956 Notes: Excerpted from the album (translated from French), This double issue of Verve is dedicated to the full reproduction in heliogravure of the one hundred-five plates etched by Marc Chagall, between 1930 and 1955, for the illustration of the Bible. The artist composed especially for the present work, sixteen lithographs in color and twelve in black, as well as the cover and the title page. This volume was completed and printed on September 10, 1956, by the Master Printers Draeger Freres for heliogravure, and by Mourlot Freres for lithography. About the Publication: Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), published as Verve Vol. VIII, No. 33–34 in September 1956, represents one of the crowning achievements of Chagall’s lifelong dialogue with the sacred. Conceived and directed by the visionary publisher Teriade and printed by the master lithographers Mourlot Freres, the issue features thirty-four color lithographs and numerous black-and-white drawings inspired by biblical figures and stories. Chagall’s works for this edition unite text and image in a luminous meditation on divine creation, moral struggle, and spiritual renewal, imbued with his signature dreamlike symbolism and radiant color. Produced in postwar Paris, this landmark publication reaffirmed the enduring union of art and faith, establishing Dessins Pour La Bible as one of the most important illustrated works of the 20th century. 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 Paradis...

Marc Chagall Paradise II From the rare limited edition Editions de la Revue VERVE, Paris The Bible Original double sided lithograph on paper 1956 Mint Condition