Created between 1957 and 1960, the series Daphnis & Chloe is regarded as the most important of Chagall's graphic works due to the number and size of the publication. The series of 42 original color lithographs was pulled on Arches wove paper and signed in pencil by Marc Chagall (Vitebsk, 1887 - Saint-Paul, 1985) in the lower right margin and numbered out of an edition of 60. Printed by Mourlot Frères, Paris.

Creating a high sense of drama, Chagall manipulates the coloration of the image by employing a dominate shade of grey in order to enhance the vibrancy of the blue, yellow, green and purple used within the image. The overlap of colors is spectacular, everywhere it appears to be a darker shade, there are actually other colors that come through.

The following is an excerpt from this famed romantic tale of Daphnis & Chloe: "Dryas and his family were busy round the table. One of the sheep-dogs grabbed some meat and fled through the door. Dryas dashed off in pursuit. In the course of this pursuit he saw Daphnis. He flung his arms around Daphnis and led him indoors. When they (Daphnis and Chloé) saw one another they very nearly sank to the ground; but managing to stay upright they wished one another good morning and kissed each other. Thus Daphnis got more that he had hoped for - not only a glimpse of Chloé but a kiss as well. He sat close to the fire and unloaded the wood-pigeons and blackbirds, and described how he had gone to catch birds. They praised him for being so energetic and invited him to dinner" (Galerie Michael, 2007, Daphnis & Chloé).

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
1. Cramer, P. (1995). Marc Chagall, The Illustrated Books: Catalogue Raisonné. Patrick Cramer, Publisher: Geneva. Book is listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 46 on pgs. 154-163.
2. Marc Chagall, The Lithographs: La Collection Sorlier. Gauss, U. (Ed.). Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 334 on pg. 164 and detailed on pg. 139.
3. Mourlot, F. (1963). The Lithographs of Chagall, 1957 - 1962. André Sauret, Editeur: Monte Carlo. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 334 on pg. 152 and detailed on pg. 131.

About the Framing:
Framed to archival museum grade conservation standards, this work is framed in a complementary gold moulding with silk mats and optical grade Plexiglas.