Le Piège. The Trap. by Marc Chagall, 1887-1985

Marc Chagall, 1887-1985
Scroll down for information.
Click here to return to the list.

Le Piège. The Trap.

Original lithograph in colours. 1962. Signed in pencil. Numbered (32) in pencil from the hand-printed edition of 75. (There were also c.10 signed artist's proofs). Drawn and printed at the Atelier Mourlot, Paris 1962. Issued by Galerie Maeght in the series: 'Derrière le Miroir', June 1962. (There was also a machine printed unsigned edition with overprinted lettering issued for the regular 'DLM' edition.
Ref: Mourlot - Chagall Lithographs no 355.

Excellent impression with very bright fresh colours. On pale cream wove Arches paper. Generelly excellent condition; slightest trace of time discolouration at the outer edges. Sheet: 20 x 14 1/8ins. Image overall approx.: 15 1/4 x 11 1/2ins (387x293mm).

This item is sold.
Click here to enquire about this item.

A very striking image typical of the free bold compositions in Chagall's work in the early 1960's. This was a period when Chagall was using combinations of free form, bold colour and extensive textures, taken for example from rubbings ( here from wood), creating a very fully worked surface. The result is to give the surface a sense of richness and movement which is complementary to the colour.

Working at the Mourlot studio in the years after the War gave an enormous stimulus to Chagall's interest in lithography as a medium, as it had to Picasso. It was Mourlot who showed Chagall how he could create differing surface effects and through them greatly strengthen the visual impact of his images in lithography. Some of Chagall's most effective prints during the 1960's were drawn for Galerie Maeght in their 'Derrière le Miroir - Behind the Mirror' series.