Marc Chagall

Private Collection, Switzerland (acquired in 1955 and sold: Galerie Kornfeld, Bern, June 16, 2006, lot 42)
Acquired at the above sale

Executed on cream coloured laid paper. There is tape residue to the perimeter of the verso of the sheet. The work is in excellent original condition. The colors are fresh and strong.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Superbly executed in ink, wash, pastel and gouache, L’Âne ou Autour des études pour ‘Derrière le miroir’ is a striking depiction of some of the most celebrated motifs of Chagall’s oeuvre: a colorful donkey, clutching a bouquet of flowers, floats weightlessly in a night sky while a violinist, who can just be made out to the left, serenades him.

Executed in 1952, the present work is part of a series commissioned from the artist by the French art dealer Aimé Maeght for the gallery’s magazine Derrière le miroir. Galerie Maeght opened at 13 rue de Téhéran in Paris in October 1945, coinciding with the return of a number of exiled artists at the end of the World War II. The first edition of Derrière le miroir appeared a year later, in October 1946, and was published without interruption until 1982. Edited by Aimé Maeght, the magazine covered only the artists exhibited at the gallery such as Matisse, Miró, Braque, Calder and Giacometti, while texts were contributed by notable literary figures of the time. L’Âne ou Autour des études pour "Derrière le miroir" was executed for editions 44-45 which were dedicated to Chagall to mark the occasion of an exhibition of his sculptures, ceramics and prints. Texts were contributed by Gaston Bachelard, Charles Estienne and Ambroise Vollard.