By Marc Chagall
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Couple devant l’arbre (Couple Before the Tree), from Chagall Lithographe I (Chagall Lithographer I), originates from the October 1960 issue published by Andre Sauret, Editeur, Monte-Carlo, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1960. This visionary composition reflects Chagall’s mastery of the lithographic medium, embodying his poetic imagination through fluid line, expressive form, and a luminous sense of movement. The work conveys the artist’s unique ability to merge memory, symbolism, and emotion into a cohesive visual language, transforming even the simplest subject into a deeply evocative and dreamlike image. Infused with lyricism and spiritual resonance, the composition exemplifies Chagall’s enduring exploration of identity, mythology, and the transcendent power of art. The piece forms part of Chagall Lithographe I, a landmark publication that documents and celebrates the artist’s achievements in lithography, offering insight into one of the most significant aspects of his graphic oeuvre.
Executed as a lithograph on velin paper, this work measures 12.5 x 9.625 inches (31.75 x 24.45 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: Couple devant l’arbre (Couple Before the Tree), from Chagall Lithographe I (Chagall Lithographer I), October 1960
Medium: Lithograph on velin paper
Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.625 inches (31.75 x 24.45 cm)
Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued
Date: 1960
Publisher: Andre Sauret, Editeur, Monte-Carlo
Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris
Catalogue raisonne references: Chagall, Marc, et al. Chagall Lithographe. Andre Sauret, 1960-1986, illustration 281-292. Cramer, Patrick, and Meret Meyer. Marc Chagall: Catalogue Raisonne des Livres Illustres. P. Cramer ed., 1995, illustration 43.
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From Chagall Lithographe I (Chagall Lithographer I), published by Andre Sauret, Editeur, Monte-Carlo, 1960
Notes:
Excerpted from the album (translated from French), This work, which was designed and compiled by Fernand Mourlot and Andre Sauret, was finished in October 1960. The reproductions were printed on the presses of Draeger Freres, and the original lithographs on the presses of Mourlot Freres. The Imprimerie Nationale de France is responsible for the typography. Of this work it was shot, apart, CL examples on Grand Velin d'Arches, numbered to the press from I to CL, signed by the artist and the publisher, including, in addition, two original lithographs specially made for this separate draw.
About the Publication:
Chagall Lithographe I (Chagall Lithographer I), published in October 1960 by Andre Sauret in Monte-Carlo and printed by Mourlot Freres, represents a foundational survey of Marc Chagall’s lithographic production. Conceived in close collaboration with master printer Fernand Mourlot, the publication serves as both a catalogue and a celebration of the artist’s exploration of lithography from the late 1940s through the 1950s. It documents the technical and artistic evolution of Chagall’s printmaking, highlighting the innovative approaches he developed in partnership with the Mourlot atelier, whose expertise allowed for the translation of his painterly vision into the lithographic medium with extraordinary fidelity. The publication includes numerous reproductions alongside original lithographs, offering a comprehensive overview of themes central to Chagall’s work, including biblical narratives, folklore, and personal symbolism. Widely regarded as an essential reference in the study of Chagall’s graphic oeuvre, Chagall Lithographe I stands as a testament to the enduring collaboration between artist and printer, and to the importance of lithography within the broader trajectory of 20th century modern 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 Couple...
Category
1960s Expressionist Otto Schubert Prints and Multiples
