By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Hommage a Georges Braque (Homage to Georges Braque), originates from the 1964 folio Derriere le Miroir, Nos. 144–145–146, L’Hommage a Georges Braque (Tribute to Georges Braque). Published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, under the direction of Aime Maeght, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, this luminous composition stands as Chagall’s poetic tribute to his friend and contemporary Georges Braque, “Neither the sun nor the brilliance of the moon can calm today this strange sadness.
Something close has gone, though his life was distant. And there is nothing with which this life can be compared. And from this departure there arise feelings inexpressible, like his colors which spoke but not to everyone. I have seen his plastic world so far from the worries of the day and his personality beyond this world. That is what he called “reality.” How true he was, and how troubling that is! Perhaps if we enter into the grandeur of certain French paintings — La Poix d’Avignon, a still life by Chardin, or The Embarkation for Cythera by Watteau — then the dream of Braque will seem clearer to us. And our path will become clearer too.” In Hommage a Georges Braque, Chagall fuses symbolic imagery to evoke themes of flight, harmony, and spiritual transcendence, celebrating Braque’s lifelong devotion to art and transformation. The composition reflects Chagall’s unique synthesis of emotion and imagination, merging the visionary with the intimate.
Executed on velin paper, this lithograph measures 15 x 22 inches (38.1 x 55.9 cm), with centerfold, as issued. Signed in the plate and unnumbered, as issued. The edition exemplifies Chagall’s lyrical command of color and form within the refined graphic artistry of Derriere le Miroir.
Artwork Details:
Artist: Marc Chagall (1887–1985)
Title: Hommage a Georges Braque (Homage to Georges Braque), from Derriere le Miroir, Nos. 144–145–146, L’Hommage a Georges Braque (Tribute to Georges Braque), 1964
Medium: Lithograph on velin paper
Dimensions: 15 x 22 inches (38.1 x 55.9 cm), with centerfold, as issued
Inscription: Signed in the plate and unnumbered, as issued
Date: 1964
Publisher: Maeght Editeur, Paris
Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From the 1964 folio Derriere le Miroir, Nos. 144–145–146, published by Maeght Editeur, Paris
Notes:
Excerpted from the folio (translated from French): Taken from this special issue of “Behind the Mirror,” CCCL examples on velin de Rives were numbered, constituting the original edition of L’Hommage a Georges Braque. These deluxe examples also included an etching based on Trois oiseaux sur fond violet. The lithographs for this issue were printed in the ateliers of Maeght Editeur, Levallois. The text was printed by Fequet et Baudier, typographers. Finished printing May 13, 1964.
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).
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Category
1960s Expressionist Marc Chagall Art
