By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled L’Arbre de Jesse (The Tree of Jesse), originates from the 1960 folio Derriere le Miroir, No. 119, Poetes, peintres, sculpteurs (Poets, Painters, Sculptors), published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, under the direction of Aime Maeght, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris. This lyrical composition exemplifies Chagall’s visionary fusion of faith, memory, and color, uniting biblical symbolism with the artist’s poetic sensibility. In L’Arbre de Jesse, Chagall reimagines a sacred theme as a vibrant allegory of spiritual lineage, evoking the mystical harmony between heaven and earth that defines his most celebrated works.
Executed on velin paper, this lithograph measures 15 x 11 inches (38.1 x 27.9 cm), as issued. Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued. The edition reflects the exceptional quality and craftsmanship of the Maeght and Mourlot collaborations, which brought Chagall’s radiant imagery to print with unparalleled fidelity.
Artwork Details:
Artist: Marc Chagall (1887–1985)
Title: L’Arbre de Jesse (The Tree of Jesse), from Derriere le Miroir, No. 119, Poetes, peintres, sculpteurs (Poets, Painters, Sculptors), 1960
Medium: Lithograph on velin paper
Dimensions: 15 x 11 inches (38.1 x 27.9 cm), as issued
Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered, as issued
Date: 1960
Publisher: Maeght Editeur, Paris
Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris
Catalogue raisonne references: Mourlot, Fernand, and Marc Chagall. “Chagall Lithographe, Volume II, 1957–1962.” Chagall Lithographe, Sauret, 1963, illustration 297. Cramer, Patrick, and Meret Meyer. Marc Chagall: Catalogue Raisonné Des Livres Illustrés. P. Cramer ed., 1995, illustration 40
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From the 1960 folio Derriere le Miroir, No. 119, Poetes, peintres, sculpteurs (Poets, Painters, Sculptors), published by Maeght Editeur, Paris
About the Publication:
Derriere le Miroir (translated as "Behind the Mirror") was an iconic French art periodical published from 1946 to 1982 by Maeght Editeur, one of the most influential art publishers of the 20th century. Founded by Aime Maeght in Paris, the publication was conceived as a visual and literary collaboration between leading modern artists, poets, and critics. Each issue functioned as both an exhibition catalogue and a work of art in itself—featuring original lithographs printed directly from the artists' stones or plates, alongside essays, poems, and critical commentary. Over the course of 36 years, Derriere le Miroir produced more than 250 issues and showcased an extraordinary roster of artists including Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Joan Miro, Georges Braque, Alexander Calder, Fernand Leger, Pierre Bonnard, Alberto Giacometti, Eduardo Chillida, Ellsworth Kelly, Francis Bacon, Paul Rebeyrolle, Claude Garache, Antoni Tapies, Bram van Velde, Pierre Alechinsky, Pol Bury, Shusaku Arakawa, and Gerard Titus-Carmel. Printed in the ateliers of Mourlot, Arte, and Imprimerie Moderne du Lion, the periodical set new standards for quality in color lithography, combining fine art printing with elegant typography and poetic text. Beyond its visual brilliance, Derriere le Miroir also became a cultural chronicle of postwar European modernism. Each issue coincided with exhibitions held at Galerie Maeght, providing a collectible and widely accessible record of groundbreaking shows. Its integration of image, text, and philosophy created a dialogue between art and literature that elevated the modern art book to new aesthetic heights. Today, Derriere le Miroir remains one of the most sought-after and historically significant art publications, prized by collectors and scholars alike for its craftsmanship, influence, and its role in defining the visual language of 20th-century modernism. The Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence continues to honor this legacy through exhibitions and archival preservation of the series, affirming Derriere le Miroir's enduring place in the history of modern art and fine art publishing.
About the Artist:
Marc Chagall (1887–1985) was a Belarus-born French painter, printmaker, and designer whose visionary use of color and poetic symbolism made him one of the most beloved and influential artists of the 20th century. Rooted in the rich imagery of his Jewish heritage and childhood in Vitebsk, Chagall’s dreamlike compositions fused memory, folklore, faith, and romance with the expressive innovations of modern art. His work evolved alongside and in dialogue with the great modern masters—Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Alexander Calder, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Georges Braque, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray—artists who, like Chagall, redefined artistic language for a new century. Spanning painting, printmaking, stained glass, ceramics, stage design, and illustration, Chagall’s career reflected both his deep spirituality and his boundless imagination. His works are held in major museum collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, the Tate, and the Centre Pompidou. 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 L’Arbre de Jesse, Chagall Derriere le Miroir, Chagall Maeght...
Category
1960s Expressionist Art
