This particular image has extremely vivid and highly saturated colors; particularly beautiful are the strong crimson reds and brilliant sapphire blues. The dramatic color, coupled with bold religious imagery, makes this an extraordinary work within the Jerusalem series, and an exemplar piece within Chagall's larger lifetime body of work.Created in 1964, this image is part of a series of twelve lithographs which Chagall designed after the stain glass windows he created for the synagogue of the Hadassah-Hebrew Medical Center, located just outside of Jerusalem. The work was engraved and printed by Charles Sorlier in collaboration with Marc Chagall on Arches wove paper. The Arches watermark appears vertically in the right margin. On the lower right hand on the reverse side of the sheet, there is printed text which reads, "MARC CHAGALL, MAQUETTE DU VITRAIL 'JUDAH', pour Jérusalem, repuroudite en lithographie, Ch Sorlier, graveur - Mourlot, Imp." The engraver's signature also appears in the plate in the lower left hand side. This is a rare and limited artist's proof, denoted 'Epreuve d'artiste,' in pencil in the lower left and numbered 13/25. There is also a larger edition of 150 signed in Roman and Arabic numerals.Unlike the other windows in the series, Chagall has taken a more bold and simplified approach to this piece. The iconography is intentionally limited to a pair of strong hands that seem to hold a mighty crown in the upper mid-ground, and there is also a striking lion in the foreground that is executed in Chagall's trademark curvilinear and playful style. This particular window was inspired by Genesis 49:9-10, "Judah is a lion's whelp. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet." The size color and subject matter combine to make this a truly remarkable work, filled with passionate symbolism and interesting details.Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
It is fully documented and referenced in (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that I will enclose with the sale of the work) :1) Leymarie, Jean, Marc Chagall The Jerusalem Windows, 1975, listed on pages 25-31.2) Sorlier, Charles, Chagall Lithographs, 1974-79, 1984, listed on page 206 as plate CS 15.ABOUT THE FRAMING:Conservation framed in a stately and robust black and gold moulding. The rich undulating sculptural details in the frame gracefully compliment the movement within this work, without overtaking or distracting from Chagall's beautiful window. All materials are archival and museum quality. Framing is completed with white linen wrapped mattes, a matching gold inner fillet, and Plexiglas cover.