Der grüne Akrobat

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Original color lithograph by Marc Chagall, from Derrière le Miroir No. 246, 1979. Published by Galerie Maeght, Paris, 1979. Printed by Mourlot, Paris. Sheet: 378 by 276mm (15 by 10 inches). A joyful original Chagall circus print, full of the luminous color and fantasy his work is loved for. Marc Chagall (7 July 1887 – 28 March 1985) was one of the most celebrated and beloved artists of the 20th century. Born Marc Zakharovich Shagal in Vitebsk, Belarus (then part of the Russian Empire), he trained in Saint Petersburg before moving to Paris in 1910, where he became part of the vibrant avant-garde of Montparnasse. Drawing on Jewish folk tradition, Russian culture, and the imagery of his Belarusian childhood, Chagall developed a uniquely dreamlike visual language infused with lovers floating above villages, fiddlers on rooftops, animals, angels, and mystical biblical scenes. Associated with Fauvism, Cubism, and Surrealism—yet belonging to none—he was the quintessential 'School of Paris' master. His monumental stained-glass windows, ceiling paintings (including the Paris Opéra), and tapestries brought his vision to public spaces worldwide. Chagall's work is held at MoMA in New York, the Tate in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Guggenheim, and the Musée National Marc Chagall in Nice—inaugurated in 1973 and dedicated to his biblical message cycle. He remains one of the most sought-after names in 20th-century prints, with original lithographs consistently coveted by collectors worldwide. Derrière le Miroir ('Behind the Mirror'), published by Galerie Maeght in Paris between 1946 and 1982, was one of the most prestigious art publications of the 20th century. Each issue was dedicated to a single artist represented by the gallery—Chagall, Miró, Calder, Braque, Giacometti among them—and featured original lithographs printed by the Mourlot studio in Paris. DLM lithographs are original prints in every sense: drawn on stone by the artist and printed from those stones in large but finite editions, making them accessible collector's items bearing the direct touch of the master. This original color lithograph (sheet: 378 by 276mm (15 by 10 inches)) depicts 'Der grüne Akrobat'. Published in 1979 by Galerie Maeght, Paris, this work is a fine example of Chagall's graphic production of the period, printed at the celebrated Mourlot studio in Paris under the direct supervision of Fernand Mourlot. Each color was applied from a separate lithographic stone, resulting in the luminous, layered palette that makes Chagall's prints instantly recognizable. The circus was one of Chagall's most enduring obsessions, a metaphor for the artist's own world of dreamlike fantasy and poetic escape. His circus lithographs—with their acrobats, clowns, and performers floating against vivid color fields—are among the most joyful and decorative of all his prints, perennially popular with collectors. In excellent condition. Colors vivid and unfaded. No tears, creases, or foxing. Ready to frame.

Marc Chagall – Der grüne Akrobat · Original Color Lithograph · Galerie Maeght, Paris · 1979

Werksverzeichnis: Mourlot 946