An Old Jew. Ein Alter Jude. by Marc Chagall, 1887-1985

Marc Chagall, 1887-1985
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An Old Jew. Ein Alter Jude.

Original etching with drypoint in black ink; unique impression with very extensive watercolour colouring by Chagall. 1922. Signed twice; in ink lower left and pencil lower right. The only known impression with added colouring - previously in the Chagall Archive, St. Paul de Vence. The only known completed proof before the edition. Unique in this form. Etched for the series: Mein Leben - My Life. Issued edition in black only of 110 impressions. Published by Cassirer, Berlin 1923.
Ref: Kornfeld - Chagall Etchings no 13, proof a.

Outstandingly fine contrasty impression. On pale cream laid hollande-type paper. Excellent original unrestored condition. Sheet: 75/8x6 7/8ins. Plate: 43/4x3 7/8ins. 120x98mm.

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The only known impression of this etching on which Chagall extended and developed the image using hand-painted watercolour. This is the actual impression cited in the Kornfeld oeuvre catalogue, and previously located in the Chagall Archive at St. Paul de Vence.

Symbols of Jewish life and traditions were always to be at the centre of Chagall's art , but in the etchings of the Mein Leben series he used them to create images which, despite their small scale, are powerful and revolutionary statements of his unique creative genius. The wit that is also so often lurking in his images is apparent in ?An Old Jew? and 'The Grandmother' (see no.11) in the way that he has turned the cat on the bench into a caricature portrait of himself.

The stylisation of the figure, the suppression of detail in the drawing so as to allow the pattern of the form to express the action and the character of the man, and the use of the abstracted background shading all show the way that Chagall wanted to combine the familiar figures of his early life with a totally fresh approach to space and composition, and thus to inspire a type of new visionary experience in the viewer.

The watercolour additions by Chagall to this well-known image give it a completely different quality of surface and visual depth to the impressions of the regular edition. The watercolour is wonderfully fresh and shows all the nuances of Chagall's use of the paint brush.