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Spaightwood Galleries
Marc Chagall signed prints
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To sign or not to sign: that is the question
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The pencil signature is a fairly recent development in the history of printmaking. The practise is generally attributed to Whistler's brother-in-law, Sir Francis Seymour Haden, who was soon imitated by Whistler himself. Until the last third of the 19th century, the only time a print came with a signature was when it was a gift by the artist. Seymour Haden's great innovation was to charge extra for a signature: 5 guineas for an unsigned print, 6 for a print with a signature (a guinea equaled 21 shillings or about $5.25, so Haden's innovation added a modest 20% or $5.25 to the price of a print). The innovation did not catch on immediately. Most of Renoir's and Cezanne's prints are unsigned as are most German Expressionist prints, which were often published in books and periodicals in editions of between 200 and 1000 impressions. The practice of having separate signed and unsigned editions continued during most of the 20th century. Chagall, Miró, Picasso, Braque, Giacometti, Kandinsky, Kollwitz, and others often did both signed and unsigned editions so that those who could afford to pay could have a signed impression while those who could not could still have the print. Kollwitz frequently published a small edition with pencil signature and then, a few years later, a larger unsigned edition of the same piece would appear. Chagall's great etching series either come unsigned, like the Dead Souls, his first major work for Ambroise Vollard, or partially signed and partially unsigned. Chagall was at his most elaborate when he and Vollard decided to issue three editions of The Fables of La Fontaine: a small signed edition of 100 numbered with the place of the plate in the series, a hand-colored but unsigned impression of 85, and an unsigned edition of 240. It was thus possible either to have an unsigned hand-colored impression or a signed but uncolored impression. In the Bible etchings, Chagall and Vollard changed course: the etchings came either unsigned and uncolored or signed and hand-colored. Chagall also made many prints for publication in deluxe art reviews like Derrière le Miroir and XXe Siecle; sometimes these would also be available in a small pencil-signed and numbered edition. To further complicate things, sometimes Chagall would take one of the large-edition unsigned pieces, sign it, and send it off to a friend or sign one of the unsigned impressions at a gallery opening. A pencil signature on a print that was not supposed to be signed is called a complimentary signature. A Chagall signature on a letter is worth about $1000; on a work of art it can be worth many times that amount. Unfortunately, as the desire for signed Chagall prints pushed the prices higher and higher, the forgers, scenting an opportunity, were quick to take unsigned prints, add a fake signature, often an HC or EA annotation, and let it go at that. Spaightwood guarantees the authenticity of all works we sell. That guarantee includes the signature.
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Les deux pigeons / The two doves (H. 233, S. 181). Original etching, 1927-30. 100 pencil signed impressions (of which this is one), 85 hand-colored impressions, and 240 impressions (of which 40 are on japon paper) signed in the plate for The Fables of La Fontaine. This image occurs as plate 87 in the Fables. Slightly matburned outside platemark. Image size: 296x240mm. Price: SOLD.
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L’inspiration / Inspiration (M. 837). Original lithograph, 1976. 50 signed and numbered impressions. One of Chagall's largest lithographs dedicated to the ideas/images that serve to inspire him to create. Image size: 740x525mm. Price: SOLD
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L'artiste II (M. 929). Original color lithograph, 1978. 50 signed & numbered impressions, of which this is n. 11/50. This work has just come back from restoration. It is a beautiful image in very good condition. Image size: 330x250mm. Price: $15,000.
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Bouquet for Fernand (M. 635). Original color lithograph, 1972. 800 unsigned impression for Mourlot's Souvenirs et portraits d'Artistes, published in Paris by Alain Mazo. There were also 50 portfolios with Roman numerals and several unnumbered artist's proofs. Ours is a signed trial proof on which Chagall has crossed off the printer's border marks (full sheet illustrated on left above; image as matted on right; the backgound is cream, the brown is the result of using a flash to illuminate the piece from up close). Since only Chagall would have access to this proof, it gives a baseline for a "private" signature, as opposed to the more flamboyant "public" signature he uses on signed and numbered editions. Image size: 335x260mm Price:$4750.
We also have one of the 800 unsigned impressions available: Price: $1500.
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The village by night (D.L.M. 250, n. 27-28). Original color lithograph, 1950. C. 1000 impressions signed in the stone. This is one of the first two color lithographs that Chagall drew directly on the stone. Identified in the 1982 catalogue raisonné of Derrière le Miroir as an original lithograph and mentioned as one of Chagall's first two solo efforts at color lithography in a 1977 memoir by Aimé Maeght, Chagall’s dealer from 1950 on and the one who sent him to Mourlot’s lithography workshop to learn how to do all of the color stones for his lithographs, thereby starting a collaborative relationship with Charles Sorlier, master-printer at Mourlot, with whom he would work until his death in 1986. Our impression signed in crayon. No separate signed & numbered edition exists. Image size: 256x196mm. Price: $3,975.
Impression without complimentary signature: $1250.
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Mystical Crucifixion (D.L.M. 250, n. 27-28). Original color lithograph, 1950. c. 1000 impressions signed in the stone; published in the deluxe art review, Derriere le Miroir in 1950. Chagall began doing paintings of the Crucifixion after the Nazis began the Holocaust, perhaps as a reminder that there were times in the past when the the full power of the state was turned against Jewish rabbis and their followers. It may be significant that this is one of the first two color lithographs that Chagall drew directly on the stone and that it came shortly after Israel's war for independence led to a troubled peace and six years before the Arab states would try again to destroy Israel. Identified in the 1982 catalogue raisonné of Derrière le Miroir as an original lithograph and mentioned as one of Chagall's first two solo efforts at color lithography in a 1977 memoir by Aimé Maeght, Chagall’s dealer from 1950 on and the one who sent him to Mourlot’s lithography workshop to learn how to do all of the color stones for his lithographs, thereby starting a collaborative relationship with Charles Sorlier, master-printer at Mourlot, with whom he would work until his death in 1986. No separate signed & numbered edition exists; with the ceterfold as always. Image size: 360x520mm. Price: $4150.
Impression without complimentary signature available. Price: $1625.
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The concert (M. 176) Original color lithograph, 1957 90 signed & numbered impressions plus 2500 unsigned impressions. Illustrated in the 1988 Moscow Chagall Exhibition. Ours is a signed impression as taken from the deluxe art review, Derrière le Miroir. Image size: 380x560mm. Price: SOLD. Also available unsigned priced at $2,750.
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Ruth at the feet of Boaz (M. 248). Original color lithograph, 1960. 50 signed and numbered impressions plus 6500 unsigned impressions. Ours is an impression from the unsigned Verve edition with a complimentary signature. Image size: 356x253mm. Price: $3,900. (Also available without signature. Price: $1,575.)
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Job in despair (M. 254). Original color lithograph, 1960. 50 signed and numbered impressions plus 6500 unsigned impressions. Ours is an impression from the unsigned Verve edition with a complimentary signature. Image size: 356x253mm. Price: $3,900. (Also available without signature. Price: $1,575.)
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Behind the Mirror (M. 412). Original color lithograph, 1964. 75 signed & numbered + c. 2000 unsigned impressions. Commissioned for the deluxe art review, Derrière le Miroir, this lithograph explores a theme of great interest in surrealist art, the mirror as pathway to another world. The presence of the clown and the acrobat at either end of the mirror also suggests the circus as a place where we go to be thrilled by shows that we know are not true, hence the staid matron who imagines herself as a high-wire artist, hanging on to the mirror with her hands while her legs are up over her head. Our impression signed by Chagall. With the centerfold, as always. Image size: 345x465mm. Price: $4350. An unsigned impression is available for $2750.
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The trapeze artist (M. 477). Original color lithograph, 1967. Circa 1500 unsigned impressions. Our impression signed in black crayon. Image size: 220x115mm. Price: SOLD
Unsigned impression available: $950. Click here.
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Acrobat on a green background (M. 946). Original color lithograph, 1979. 20,000 impressions signed in the stone. Illustrated in Chagall's Works in Series. Ours is a pencil-signed impression taken from the deluxe art review, Derrière le Miroir. 310x220mm. Image size: 278x211mm. Price: $2,575. Also available without the pencil signature (as shown): $775.
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Bouquet a l'oiseau (M. 298). Original color lithograph, 1960. Edition: 75 signed & numbered impressions plus c. 2000 unsigned impressions for the deluxe French art review, Derrière le Miroir. Ours is an impression with a complimentary signature. A brilliant impression of one of Chagall's most beautiful early images. Illustrated Nice 1987. Image size: 340x260mm. Price: $3600.
An unsigned impression of the Derrière le Miroir impressions matted so that the lettering at top is not visible is also available for $1450.
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The painter in front of the village (M. 603b). Original color lithograph, 1969. 75 signed & numbered impressions + 5000 unsigned impressions published in 1969 in the deluxe art review, Derrière le Miroir. Our impression has a complimentary signature by Chagall. Image size: 380x280mm. Price: $3850.
Also available without the pencil signature: $825.
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The village (M. 917). Original color lithograph, 1977. 15,000 unsigned impressions. Ours is a signed impression as taken from the deluxe art review, Derrière le Miroir. Image size: 380x560mm. Price: $3,750.
An unsigned impression is available for $975.
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Spaightwood Galleries, Inc.
To purchase, call us at 1-800-809-3343 (508-529-2511 in Upton MA & vicinity) or send an email to sptwd@verizon.net. We accept AmericanExpress, DiscoverCard, MasterCard, and Visa.
For directions and visiting information, please call. We are, of course, always available over the web and by telephone (see above for contact information). Click the following for links to past shows and artists. For a visual tour of the gallery, please click here. For information about Andy Weiner and Sonja Hansard-Weiner, please click here. For a list of special offers currently available, see Specials.
Visiting hours: Saturday and Sunday noon to 6 pm and other times by arrangement. Please call to confirm your visit. Browsers and guests are welcome.
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