[Marc CHAGALL] The Monkey and the Leopard

This plate, an illustration to the fable by Lafontaine of the same name. It shows the leopard and the monkey at the village fair. The Monkey can do all manner of tricks, while the Leopard only has his skin to show.

Etching on vellin (wove) paper.
Sheet size: 29,7 x 37,2 cm. Image size: 24,5 x 29,4 cm.

Separately printed graphic work, signed in the plate only. From ‘The Fables of La Fontaine’ with the illustrations by Chagall. This print was published as part of the edition of 200 copies in 1952. 40 of these contained a suite of the etchings on Japon paper and 85 of these contained a second suite of the etchings with hand colouring by Chagall. A further 100 sets were printed for etching-only sets on wide margin paper (these were signed and numbered). Chagall started work on this series of etchings as early as 1927.

Made by ‘Marc Chagall’ after own design. Marc Chagall, born Moishe Zakharovich Shagal (1887-1985), was a Russian-French artist of Belarusian Jewish descent. Het was an early modernist and was active in a wide range of artistic media.

Condition: Very good, given age. Mildly browned from previous matting around the image. Remains of attachment to carrier to the rear. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

PCO-E3-02