This delightful and humorous scene harkens back to classical imagery of the young suitor who arrives to claim the heart of his maiden. Here, under the light of a crescent moon, we see our hero in action, just about to enter through a window into the bedroom of a pleasantly surprised girl, sitting up in her bed. The intensity of shadow is indicative of Chagall's ability with this medium, evoking a nighttime scene yet delicately illuminating the girl in the darkened chamber.

Of the series, La visite par la fenêtre is the only work printed on Van Gelder Zonen paper (showing the watermark along the bottom margin) . Printed on June 10, 1926, by publisher Au Sans Pareil this piece is from an unnumbered edition of 140 copies printed by Louis Fort, Paris (the total edition was out of 960) .

Created for a short novel titled Maternité written by Marc Chagall's dear friend, Marcel Arland, this particular work became part of a series of 5 original etchings. Sorlier viewed these plates as more than mere illustrations of the text by Arland, but as works of art themselves, enhancing the stories from which they were inspired.

It is fully documented and referenced in (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that I will accompany the final sale of the work) :

1) Cramer, Patrick. Marc Chagall, The Illustrated Books: Catalogue Raisonné, Geneva, 1995. Listed and illustrated as cat. no. 5 on pgs. 20-21.

2) Guse, Herausgegeben von Ernst-Gerhard. Marc Chagall - Druckgraphik, Stuttgart, 1985. Listed as cat. no. 78-82 on pgs. 268-9.

3) Kornfeld, Eberhard W. Marc Chagall, Catalogue raisonné de l'œuvre grave Vol. I: 1922-1966, Berne, 1971. Listed and illustrated as cat. no. 69 on pg. 150 and detailed on pg. 141.

4) Sorlier, Charles. Marc Chagall: The Illustrated Books, Paris 1990. Detailed and illustrated on pgs. 12 and 20-21.

This work is set in an ornate Baroque-inspired gold frame with delicately carved floral accents. The gold accentuates the curved lines and mimics action and movement, echoing Chagall's artistic hand in these works. The sculpted quality of the moulding also serves to enhance the textural elements and bring out subtle shading and lighting detail. Completed with white, linen-wrapped mats and a matching gold inner fillet, this work is set behind a Plexiglas cover. All framing materials used are archival to ensure lasting quality.