Marc Chagall’s L'Arondelle (The Little Swallow), from Daphnis et Chloé, 1961 is one of the stunning lithographs within the illustrated Daphne and Chloe series that Fernand Mourlot considered to be one of "the most important graphic works that Marc Chagall has created thus far." Chagall dedicated three years to this project and undertook a series of lithographs that perhaps defined his career, making these pieces "a work of notable importance which, unquestionably, can be placed at the top of the list of illustrated works of our time" (Mourlot 131). Daphnis and Chloe, the two romantic heroes of Greek writer, Longus, are two childhood friends who undergo the trials and tribulations of growing up and, consequently, falling in love. Evoking the rich Mediterranean landscapes from which Chagall personally drew inspiration, this work is a masterpiece any Chagall enthusiast would admire.

Marc Chagall’s L'Arondelle (The Little Swallow), from Daphnis et Chloé, 1961 illustrates the moment in Longus’ Daphnis et Chloé when Daphnis, finding a convenient excuse to graze Chloe’s bosom, reaches over to grab the grasshopper sheltering in her chest to hide from a swallow. The sunny yellow landscape upon which Daphnis and Chloe lay evokes the playful romance budding between the two adolescent protagonists. The pale pink in the upper part of Chloe’s figure corresponds with the fuchsia body of Daphnis’ figure, visually indicating a relationship between the two figures and alluding to the physical source of romantic play in this scene. Patches of pink can also be found in the bush to the right of the figures and in a thin spattering at the bottom of the composition, framing Daphnis and Chloe in the romantic rosy color of their bodies. In this way, Marc Chagall’s L'Arondelle (The Little Swallow), from Daphnis et Chloé, 1961 beautifully illustrates a moment of playful and innocent romance between Daphnis and Chloe through Chagall’s renown use of color.

Created in 1961, Marc Chagall’s L'Arondelle (The Little Swallow), from Daphnis et Chloé, 1961 is a color lithograph on Arches paper. This work is hand-signed by Marc Chagall (Vitebsk, 1887 - Saint-Paul, 1985) in the lower right margin. Numbered from edition of 60 in the lower left margin.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Marc Chagall’s L'Arondelle (The Little Swallow), from Daphnis et Chloé, 1961 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the sale of the work).

1. Gauss, Ulrike. Marc Chagall: The Lithographs. The Sorlier collection. Edited by Ulrike Gauss et. al. New York: Distributed Art Publishers., Inc., 1999. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 319.
2. Mourlot, Fernand. The Lithographs of Chagall, vol. II 1957-1962. Monté Carlo, 1960. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 319.
3. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.

About the Framing:

Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Marc Chagall’s L'Arondelle (The Little Swallow), from Daphnis et Chloé, 1961 is presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.