Zaidan Gallery

Chagall's lithographs (1960), Bible Series

Click on images to enlarge! Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others

Click on some images to enlarge! Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others

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In 1931, art dealer Ambroise Vollard suggested to Marc Chagall (1887-1985) that he undertake a series of illustrations of the Bible. Chagall agreed and worked on these hand-colored etchings over a 25 year period until all 105 were completed and published by Teriade, successor to Vollard, in 1957.

In taking on the task of illustrating the Bible, Chagall undertook one of the most monumental printing projects ever attempted. The 105 plates were the largest number Chagall had done on a single subject. In addition, pictorially and dramatically, the works are more complex than those found in his previous sets of etchings. The illustrated scenes come from twelve books of the Bible and the majority depict scenes from Genesis and adhere closely to the Biblical text.

Chagall is one of the most successful artists of the twentieth century. He came from a large and devout Jewish family. Born in the small Russian town of Vitebsk, Chagall studied art in St. Petersburg and Paris. In 1923, Chagall fled the Soviet Union and settled in France where he began working with the Parisian art dealer and publisher Ambroise Vollard.

Chagall’s approach to the Bible is one that focuses on the intense encounters between God and humanity. Each image tells the story plainly and poignantly. Curator Jean Bloch Rosensaft, of the Jewish Museum in New York notes that the series “brings together the mature artist’s spirituality and childhood’s fantasy through the sophisticated artistry of the master printmaker.”

By FCMOA


Adam and Eve expelled from Paradise Land, 1960	Adam and Eve with the forbidden fruit, 1960	Ahasuerus sends Vasthi away, 1960	Boaz wakes up and sees Ruth at his feet, 1960	Cain and Abel, 1960

Creation, 1960	Esther, 1960	Eve is cursed by God, 1960	Hagar in the desert, 1960	Job in despair, 1960

Job praying, 1960	Meeting of Ruth and Boaz, 1960	Michal saves David from Saul , 1960	Naomi and her beautiful daughters, 1960	Paradise, 1960

Paradise, 1960	Rachel hides her father's household gods, 1960	Rahab and the Spies of Jericho, 1960	Ruth at the feet of Boaz, 1960	Ruth gleaning, 1960

Sarah and Abimelech, 1960	Sarah and angels, 1960	Tamar, beautiful daughter of Judah, 1960	The Face of Israel, 1960	Untitled (The cover of Bible), 1960

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