Having traveled with Naomi, her mother-in-law, back to her hometown of Bethlehem, Ruth goes out to the fields to glean the grain left behind after the harvest. The seated figure gesturing towards Ruth could be Naomi or Boaz, the man who owns the land underfoot. Throwing a bundle of golden wheat over her shoulder, Ruth bends her head and listens to her companion. Organic swathes of crimson and umber unite the two figures and bright spots of white hint at the sun high overhead.

Ruth's wide stance and tall posture give her a strong presence, and one can easily imagine how a man might be moved by her proud labor and thick, red hair. Chagall blends romanticism and spirituality in Ruth glaneuse (Ruth Gleaning) in this beautifully evocative print.

Created in 1960 as part of the artist's drawings for the Bible series, this work is hand-signed by Marc Chagall (Vitebsk, 1887 - Saint-Paul, 1985) in pencil in the lower right margin. This work is numbered 6/50 in pencil at the lower left. Published by Verve in a double issue and printed by Draeger, the Bible series was developed by Chagall between 1958 - 59 and explores themes that were (mostly) not treated in his engravings on the same subject (Mourlot, 66). Apart from the editions of Verve, a signed and numbered edition of 50, to which our work belongs, was created on Arches paper alongside 10 proofs not for sale.

DOCUMENTED AND ILLUSTRATED IN:
1) Gauss, Ulrike. Marc Chagall: The Lithographs. New York: Distributed Art Publishers. Listed and illustrated as catalogue no. 246 on p.121.
2) Mourlot, Fernand. The Lithographs of Chagall: 1957-1962. Boston: Boston Book and Art Shop, Inc., 1963. Listed and illustrated as catalogue no. 246 on pp. 74-5

ABOUT THE FRAMING:
Framed to archival, museum-grade conservation standards, this piece is displayed in a complementary moulding with silk mats and optical-grade Plexiglas.