“In our life there is a single color, as on an artist’s palette, which provides the meaning of life and art. It is the color of love.” – Marc Chagall  

Marc Chagall is without doubt one of the greatest artists of the 2oth century. In his paintings he created a unique world full of pathos, poetry, humor and enchantment, drawing on vivid memories of his childhood in what is today Belarus.  

Chagall experienced Fauvism and Cubism in Paris—at that time the Mecca of art. He was also influenced by Byzantine and Russian icon painting, as well as folk art. From these, he created his own mythological floating figures and symbolism to be interpreted freely, if at all.  

In addition to paintings and glass windows for cathedrals and synagogues, Chagall created a rich plethora of prints. As color was of such great essence for his work, lithography became his favorite technique. By this time he was 35, living in Berlin. His early prints were drawn on paper and then transformed into lithographs by a professional printer. He later learned the art of making lithographs from scratch, acting as an “apprentice” to Charles Sorlier, a professional and exceptionally talented printer.   

Chagall prints are usually limited to an average of 50 copies, signed and numbered by the artist. In addition to these numbered prints, about a dozen artist proof prints—numbered in Roman numerals and printed on different paper—were produced.  

By the end of his life, Chagall had created more than one thousand prints—mainly lithographs and etchings. He died in 1985 at the age of 98 and was mourned all over the world, though his legacy lives on. Chagall loved the circus and the Bible and found the same human paradox in both: joy mixed with tragedy, beauty with sadness. The poetic and biblical implications of Chagall’s art have always appealed to a broad public; his works are collected, exhibited, and admired all over the world.