An original colour etching with aquatint from Marc Chagall’s illustrated collaboration with the poet Louis Aragon, combining literary imagination with the artist’s unmistakable poetic imagery.

Medium

Original etching and aquatint in colours on Velin Arches paper

Edition

Unsigned proof from the edition of 200 impressions bearing the publisher’s watermark ME (Maeght Éditeur)

There were also 25 impressions on Japan paper signed and numbered by the artist

Printer

Lacourière et Frélaut, Paris

Publisher

Maeght Éditeur, Paris

Size

Paper: 360 × 470 mm

Image: 300 × 391 mm

Literature

Patrick Cramer, Marc Chagall: Les Livres Illustrés, reference 99, pages 292–293

Quarante ans d’édition Maeght, page 106

During the final decades of his career Marc Chagall produced a remarkable series of illustrated books in collaboration with major writers and publishers. These projects allowed him to combine literature and printmaking in ways that reflected the lyrical imagination that defined his art. The present etching forms part of his illustrated work with the poet Louis Aragon and demonstrates the dreamlike imagery and narrative poetry that have made Chagall one of the most beloved artists of the twentieth century.

In Ce lui qui dit les choses sans rien dire, Chagall presents a whimsical scene in which a figure somersaults above the roof of a small cottage. The image floats between dream and reality. Gravity appears suspended and the figure seems to move effortlessly through space.

Chagall’s etched line remains fluid and expressive while the aquatint introduces areas of soft colour and atmosphere. The composition evokes a sense of joy and movement that is characteristic of the artist’s visual language.

The work possesses the lightness of a visual poem. The figure’s acrobatic motion and the humble cottage setting combine to create a scene that feels both playful and deeply symbolic.

The title translates roughly as “Those who say things without saying anything,” a phrase drawn from Louis Aragon’s poetry. Aragon’s text celebrates Chagall’s ability to communicate emotion and meaning through imagery rather than direct narrative.

The image reflects many of the recurring motifs that populate Chagall’s art. Floating figures, village architecture and scenes of playful transformation appear throughout his work. These motifs often draw upon memories of his childhood in Vitebsk as well as his lifelong fascination with folklore, theatre and poetry.

In this composition the tumbling figure becomes a metaphor for freedom, imagination and the ability of art to transcend the limitations of everyday life.

Chagall was one of the great masters of twentieth century printmaking. Alongside his paintings and stained glass commissions he devoted considerable energy to the production of illustrated books. These works allowed him to explore the relationship between image and text in a highly personal way.

His collaborations with publishers such as Maeght Éditeur resulted in some of the most celebrated illustrated books of the modern era. These projects brought together poetry, literature and visual art within a unified artistic vision.

By the mid 1970s Chagall was widely recognised as one of the most important living artists in the world. His late career was marked by a remarkable productivity across multiple media including painting, printmaking, ceramics and monumental stained glass commissions.

During this period Chagall continued to return to the lyrical themes that had defined his work for decades. Love, memory, village life and poetic imagination remained central subjects.

The illustrated books of the 1970s reflect an artist working with complete confidence and freedom, revisiting the imagery that had become synonymous with his art.

During the 1970s Chagall continued to produce major illustrated books and prints while also undertaking important public commissions. His stained glass windows for institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the Cathedral of Reims further cemented his reputation for transforming colour and light into spiritual experience.

The illustrated book projects created with Maeght during this period stand among the most refined examples of his printmaking practice, demonstrating the artist’s ability to translate his painterly vision into etched line and aquatint.

Chagall’s illustrated books were produced in carefully controlled editions and printed by some of the finest master printers in Paris. Proof impressions such as the present example provide collectors with access to the imagery of the series while retaining the quality of the original printing.

The presence of the Maeght watermark confirms its origin within the publisher’s official edition.

Chagall’s work is held in major museum collections throughout the world including the Louvre in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago. His prints and illustrated books have long been recognised as an essential component of his artistic legacy.

The present work forms part of a suite of twenty five original colour etchings created to accompany Louis Aragon’s poetry. In these images Chagall revisits many of the themes that recur throughout his art including floating figures, village life and moments of dreamlike transformation.

The series demonstrates the artist’s ability to translate poetic language into visual form while maintaining the lyrical spirit that defines both poet and painter.

Etching and aquatint allowed Chagall to combine the expressive freedom of line with subtle tonal colour. The etched line describes the forms and movement of the figures while the aquatint introduces depth and atmosphere through delicate gradations of colour.

Printed on Velin Arches paper by the renowned Parisian printers Lacourière and Frélaut, the work reflects the high technical standards associated with Chagall’s illustrated books.

Chagall’s illustrated books have been the subject of extensive scholarly study, notably in Patrick Cramer’s catalogue Marc Chagall: Les Livres Illustrés. These publications document the artist’s collaborations with major poets and writers and confirm the importance of his printmaking within twentieth century art.

Publisher’s proof bearing the watermark ME (Maeght Éditeur)

Marc Chagall stands among the most distinctive voices of twentieth century art. His work blends elements of modernism, folklore and personal memory into a visual language that remains instantly recognisable.

Across painting, printmaking and monumental commissions he created images that speak to themes of love, spirituality and the imagination.

Chagall’s prints and illustrated books remain highly sought after by collectors. Their combination of strong visual imagery, literary collaboration and carefully controlled editions has ensured sustained demand within the modern art market.

Works associated with major publishers such as Maeght and printed by renowned Parisian ateliers carry particular significance within the field of modern printmaking.

This etching offers a vivid example of Chagall’s poetic imagination within the context of his illustrated book collaborations. The lively composition, literary association and high quality Paris printing combine to create a work that captures the essence of Chagall’s graphic art.

For collectors interested in Chagall’s printmaking and his dialogue with poetry, works from this series represent a compelling and historically rich addition to a modern art collection.

Works presented by Dantzig Gallery are selected for their art historical significance, provenance and enduring cultural relevance.