This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled David a la harpe (David with the Harp), from Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), Verve: Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. X, No. 37-38, originates from the July 29, 1960 issue published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1960. This visionary composition reflects Chagall’s poetic interpretation of the biblical figure David, evoking themes of music, devotion, and divine inspiration through his luminous color and dreamlike symbolism. The flowing forms and expressive imagery convey a sense of harmony and spiritual resonance, capturing the lyrical presence of David and the harp as an emblem of sacred expression within Chagall’s distinctive visual language. Infused with movement and lyricism, the work transforms sacred narrative into a meditative vision of praise, creativity, and the transcendent power of music. The piece forms part of Chagall’s celebrated series of lithographs and drawings created for Dessins Pour La Bible, a monumental project uniting art, scripture, and mysticism in one of the artist’s most important achievements.
Executed as a lithograph on velin du Marais paper, this work measures 14 x 10.5 inches (35.56 x 26.67 cm). Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the superb craftsmanship of the Mourlot Freres atelier, renowned for its collaborations with the greatest modern masters of the 20th century.
Artwork Details:
Artist: Marc Chagall (1887–1985)
Title: David a la harpe (David with the Harp), from Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), Verve: Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. X, No. 37-38, July 29, 1960
Medium: Lithograph on velin du Marais paper
Dimensions: 14 x 10.5 inches (35.56 x 26.67 cm)
Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued
Date: 1960
Publisher: Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, under the direction of Teriade, Editeur, Paris
Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris
Catalogue raisonne references: Chagall, Marc, et al. Chagall Lithographe. Andre Sauret, 1960-1986, illustration 230-276. Cramer, Patrick, and Meret Meyer. Marc Chagall: Catalogue Raisonne des Livres Illustres. P. Cramer ed., 1995, illustration 42.
Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium
Provenance: From Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), Verve: Revue Artistique et Litteraire, Vol. X, No. 37-38, published by Editions de la revue Verve, Paris, 1960
Notes:
Excerpted from the folio (translated from French), This double issue of Verve includes the drawings that Marc Chagall executed in 1958 and 1959 on biblical themes that he had not generally dealt with in his illustration for the Bible, engraved with etching and which were included in issue 33/34 of Verve. This album has 96 renderings in black and 24 color litbographies as well as the cover that were specially made for this album. It was completed printing on July 29, 1960 by Draeger Freres for black gravures and by Mourlot Freres for color lithography.
About the Publication:
Marc Chagall, Dessins Pour La Bible (Drawings for the Bible), published as Verve Vol. X, No. 37-38 on July 29, 1960, represents a significant continuation and expansion of Chagall’s profound engagement with biblical imagery and spiritual narrative. Conceived and directed by the visionary publisher Teriade, the publication builds upon the earlier Verve issue devoted to Chagall’s Bible illustrations by presenting a new body of work executed in 1958 and 1959, exploring themes and episodes that had not been fully addressed in the initial series. Printed in Paris by Draeger Freres for black gravures and Mourlot Freres for color lithography, the edition demonstrates an exceptional level of technical refinement and artistic collaboration. The publication includes an extensive suite of ninety six black reproductions and twenty four color lithographs, as well as specially created cover imagery, reflecting Chagall’s continued innovation in translating sacred themes into graphic form. As part of the broader tradition of Verve, one of the most important artistic and literary publications of the twentieth century, this issue exemplifies the fusion of text, image, and craftsmanship at the highest level. Today, Verve Vol. X, No. 37-38 stands as a major achievement within Chagall’s graphic oeuvre, reaffirming his role as one of the foremost interpreters of biblical narrative in modern art.
About the Artist:
Marc Chagall (1887–1985) was a Belarus-born French painter, printmaker, and designer whose visionary imagination, radiant color, and deeply poetic symbolism made him one of the most beloved and influential artists of the 20th century. Rooted in the imagery of his Jewish heritage and the memories of his childhood in Vitebsk, Chagall’s art wove together themes of faith, love, folklore, and fantasy with a dreamlike modern sensibility. His unique style merging elements of Cubism, Fauvism, Expressionism, and Surrealism defied categorization, transforming ordinary scenes into lyrical meditations on memory and emotion. Influenced by Russian icon painting, medieval religious art, and the modern innovations of artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Georges Braque, Chagall developed a profoundly personal visual language filled with floating figures, vibrant animals, musicians, and lovers that symbolized the transcendent power of imagination and love. During his early years in Paris, he became an integral part of the Ecole de Paris circle, forming friendships with Amedeo Modigliani, Fernand Leger, and Sonia Delaunay, and his creative spirit resonated with that of his peers and successors Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, artists who sought to push the boundaries of perception, emotion, and form. Over a prolific career that spanned painting, printmaking, stained glass, ceramics, and stage design, Chagall brought an unparalleled poetic sensibility to modern art, infusing even the most abstract subjects with human warmth and spiritual depth. His works are held in the most prestigious museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Centre Pompidou, the Tate, and the Guggenheim, where they continue to inspire generations of artists and collectors. The highest price ever paid for a Marc Chagall artwork is approximately 28.5 million USD, achieved in 2017 at Sotheby’s New York for Les Amoureux (1928).
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