Mal de Dents. Tooth Ache. by Marc Chagall, 1887-1985

Marc Chagall, 1887-1985
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Mal de Dents. Tooth Ache.

Original etching with drypoint in black ink. 1923/27. Signed in the plate (except for one or two proofs no impressions were pencil signed). Edition of 368 impressions. Drawn as no 85 in the series: Les Ames Mortes - The Dead Souls. Commissioned by Vollard, 1923. Edition
printed at Louis Fort's studio 1927. First issued 1948 by Tériade, Paris.
Ref: Cramer - Chagall no 17

Extremely fine rich impression with ink tone. On cream wove MBM Arches paper. Excellent condition. Full margins. Sheet: 14 7/8 x 11 1/8ins. Plate: 11 x 8 1/4ins (279x211mm).

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Chagall Ames Mortes cont...

Chagall left Russia in 1922. He had been in Paris from 1910 to 1914 on a trip financed by one of his Russian patrons and whilst there had forged friendships with Picasso, Braque, Modigliani and Soutine, but his departure for Berlin in 1922 marked the end of the Russian phase of his life. In Berlin Chagall started to work in etching, on a series of themes inspired by his early life. Whilst he was there he was also contacted (through the intermediary of his friend the poet Blaise Cendars) by the Paris dealer and print publisher Vollard. Vollard had seen some of his work in the 1910-14 period and wanted him to do a series of etchings. When Chagall arrived in Paris in 1923 he agreed with Vollard that he would do a series of 100 etchings on themes inspired by Gogol?s text ?Les Ames Mortes - The Dead Souls?. This masterly series of compositions marked akey point in the development of Chagall?s art.

Although inspired by ideas from Gogol?s text the etchings for ?Les Ames Mortes? are in reality a brilliant commentary on the way of life, mannerisms and characters of a Russian Jewish community. A marvellously witty and incisive observation of situation and character, they are also the first great statement of the total individuality of Chagall?s art - of his totally personal treatment of space and pictorial arrangement which draws the viewer into communication with the figures, and of his unique understanding of how to use line and tone, especially in etching, to emphasise his themes.

The etchings for ?Les Ames Mortes? were completed around 1927 and the editions were printed with Chagall?s close supervision at Lacourière?s Studio in Paris. Despite their completion Vollard did not in fact issue the series at the time and it was not until 1948, using the 1927 editions, that the complete sets of the prints were released, together wit a translation of Gogol?s text. Apart from a few proofs no pencil signed edition of these etchings exist. They are nonetheless superb examples of the genius of the great early period of Chagall?s art, and landmarks in 20th century French etching.