By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Derriere le miroir (Behind the Looking Glass), from the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 147, originates from the 1964 edition published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1964. Derriere le miroir reflects Chagall’s lyrical vision of movement, love, and music, embodying the harmony of color and form that defines his mature style. The composition radiates joy and transcendence, as figures and shapes float in rhythmic unity—a poetic expression of Chagall’s belief in the spiritual power of art to elevate the human spirit.
Executed as a lithograph on velin paper, this work measures 15 x 22 inches, with centerfold as issued. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the superb craftsmanship of Mourlot Freres, Paris.
Artwork Details:
Artist: Marc Chagall (1887–1985)
Title: Derriere le miroir (Behind the Looking Glass), from the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 147
Medium: Lithograph on velin paper
Dimensions: 15 x 22 inches (38.1 x 55.88 cm), with centerfold as issued
Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued
Date: 1964
Publisher: Maeght Editeur, Paris
Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris
Catalogue raisonne reference: Chagall, Marc, et al. Chagall Lithographe. Andre Sauret, 1960-1986, illustration 412. Cramer, Patrick, and Meret Meyer. Marc Chagall: Catalogue Raisonne des Livres Illustres. P. Cramer ed., 1995, illustration 59.
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From the folio Derriere le miroir, No. 147, published by Maeght Editeur, Paris; printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1964
Notes:
Excerpted from the folio (translated from French), Marc Chagall executed for this issue of "Behind the Mirror,” three original lithographs that were printed by Mourlot Freres. This issue has a luxury edition printed on velin de Rives and limited to CL numbered examples.
About the Publication:
Derriere le miroir (Behind the Mirror) was one of the most important art publications of the 20th century, created and published by Maeght Editeur in Paris from 1946 to 1982. Founded by the visionary art dealer and publisher Aime Maeght, the series served as both an exhibition catalogue and a work of art in its own right, uniting original lithographs by leading modern and contemporary artists with critical essays, poetry, and design of the highest quality. Printed by master lithographers such as Mourlot Freres and Arte, Derriere le miroir became synonymous with the artistic vanguard of postwar Europe. Each issue was devoted to a single artist or theme and published to accompany exhibitions at the Galerie Maeght in Paris, featuring works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Joan Miro, Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder, Fernand Leger, and Alberto Giacometti, among others. The publication reflected Maeght’s belief that art should be both accessible and elevated—an ideal realized through its luxurious production values, meticulous printing, and collaboration with the greatest creative minds of its time. In the 1964 issue dedicated to Marc Chagall, titled *La Danse*, the artist contributed three original lithographs printed by Mourlot Freres, capturing the essence of movement, joy, and poetic transcendence. This fusion of visual and literary artistry made Derriere le miroir a cornerstone of modern art publishing, a testament to Maeght’s enduring influence on the presentation and preservation of 20th-century art.
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 1964...
Category
1960s Expressionist Art