It could be argued that Marc Chagall was fortunate for an artist of his time - not only for his prodigious amounts of talent that were bestowed on him, but also for a career that averted and avoided disaster that so beleaguered his fellow modernists.
Chagall was born to a Hasidic Russian family, and whose early interest in art came as a mystery to his conservative parents. His talent however took him to St. Petersburg, where he later developed his characteristic surreal, Fauvist, and some would say Cubist style. He happily mixed his artistic techniques just as he did his artistic style, and was not content to stay within any one school or tradition. This is why we can see his work in such diverse fields as glass painting, book illustration, oil paintings, murals and sketches.
Chagall had a life-long love affair with Paris, and it was there that he associated with Fauvists, Dadaists and the early modernist movement. It was here also that he met the famous art historian and collector Ambrose Vollard, who encouraged Chagall to make art editions of classic books, such as the Bible or folktales. Chagall eventually chose Gogol's Dead Souls - a poem by the Russian short form writer known for his modernist, absurd, and sarcastic view of human nature. Chagall's Dead Souls became one his enduring print-work legacy, and is now considered to be some of his finest work.
Chagall's friendship with Vollard led him to produce other great lithographic works - such as the Fables of French folklorist Jean Le Fontaine, and selections from the Bible. Whilst these works may be beyond the ordinary collectors reach, Chagall's interest in art prints and book prints means that there are many other works out there which can be found. One good example is the 'Marc Chagall's Drawings and Watercolors for the Ballet' by Tudor Publishing which feature original lithographs made especially for the edition by the artist.
Another very affordable choice for the beginner collector would be 'Poems of Love' Dix Milles Aubes Poemes D'Amour with illustrations by Marc Chagall, published by Falaize in 1951. There was only nine hundred of this poetry chapbook ever produced, each numbered, and can be found relatively easily.
Chagall, Marc Soupault. Rose Des Vents. Au Sans Pareil (1920).
Chagall, Marc Hofstein. Trauyer (Le Deuil). Cooperativoun Farlag (1922).
Chagall, Marc. Marc Chagall. Berlin, Verlag Der Sturm (1923). one etching each by Max Liebermann and Hermann Struck; one original woodcut by Ernst Barlach; and one original lithograph by Oskar Kokoschka
Chagall, Marc Arland. Maternite. Au Sans Pareil (1926). 5 etchings by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Morand. Ouvert La Nuit. NRF. Paris (1927). 1 original etching
Chagall, Marc Coquiot. Suite Provinciale. Andre Delpeuch (1927). 92 original unedited drawings by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Goll. Poemes D'Amour. Fourcade (1930). 7 drawings by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Schwob. Chagall Et L'Ame Juive. Roberto A. Correa (1931).
Chagall, Marc. Ma Vie. Stock (1931).
Chagall, Marc Goll. Poemes D'Amour. Fourcade (1936).
Chagall, Marc Walt. Lider Un Poemen. Forwards Association (1938).
Chagall, Marc. The Verona Press Rhyme Sheets 1-6. Oxford University Press (1938).
Chagall, Marc. Verve 3. Teriade (1938). Four color lithographs by Marc Chagall, Joan Miro, Abraham Rattner, and Paul Klee
Chagall, Marc Goll. Diary Of A Horse. Brooklyn: Editions Hemispheres (1945). Drawings by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Venturi. Marc Chagall. Pierre Matisse Editions (1945). Illustrated by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Goll. Diary Of A Horse. Editions Hemispheres (1946). Four original drawings by Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Chagall. Uigave Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (1947). 16 tipped-in colour plates, loose in the folio
Chagall, Marc Goll. Dix Mille Aubes. Poemes D'Amour. Falaize (1947).
Chagall, Marc Goll. Love Poems. Hemispheres (1947). 8 drawings by Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Four Tales From The Arabian Nights. Pantheon Books. New York (1948). 12 original lithographs by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Soir. Le Sacre De Paris. La Femme Sacree. Paris. Elle (1948).
Chagall, Marc Bella. Lumieres. Trois Collines, Geneve (1948). Illustrated by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Maritain. Ou L'Orage Enchante. Paris (1948).
Chagall, Marc Miller. The Smile At The Foot Of The Ladder. Duell Sloan Pearce (1948). Illustrations by Chagall, Picasso, Lautrec, Klee, Rouault, and de Segonzac.
Chagall, Marc. Stravinsky. Duell, Sloan Pearce (1949). artwork by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Eluard. Le Dur Desir De Durer. Grey Falcon Press / The Trianon Press (1950). color lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Wahl. Marc Chagall - Derriere Le Miroir 27/28. Maeght (1950). 2 color lithographs
Chagall, Marc Hutchison. Toward Daybreak. Harper Brothers (1950).
Chagall, Marc Prevert. Verve 24. Revues Verve (1950).
Chagall, Marc Goll. Dix Mille Aubes. Falaize (1951). 8 drawings by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Estienne. Chagall. Aimery Somogy (1952).
Chagall, Marc. Derriere Le Miroir 44-45. Maeght Editeur, Mar (1952). 2 original color lithographs
Chagall, Marc. Verve 27/28. Teriade (1952). 34 original lithographs printed by Mourlot (17 in color, of which 5 double-page), 41 tipped-in color plates, and 52 black and white illustrations
Chagall, Marc. Derriere Le Miroir 66-68. Maeght. (1954).
Chagall, Marc. Bible Verve 33/34. Verve (1956). 17 original lithographs
Chagall, Marc. De Klokken Van Chagall. Hilversum, De Jong (1956). Clocks of Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Derriere Le Miroir 92-93, 10 Ans D'edition. Maeght (1956). original etchings by Alberto Giacometti and Joan Miro, original lithograph by Bazaine and original color lithographs by Chagall and Miro
Chagall, Marc Chagall. Dessins Pour la Bible. (1956). 24 original lithographs
Chagall, Marc Goll. Diary Of A Horse. Thomas Yoseloff (1956). Illustrated by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Schapiro. Illustrations Pour La Bible. Utrecht (1956). 28 lithographs
Chagall, Marc Bernard. Les Pendules De Chagall. Steendrukkerij De Jong., Hilversum (1956). lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Marc Chagall. Perls Galleries (1956).
Chagall, Marc Lassaigne. Chagall. Maeght Editeur (1957). 15 original lithographs by Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Derriere Le Miroir 99/100. Maeght Editeur (1957). 3 lithographs by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Goll. Jean Sans Terre. Seghers (1957). Cover design by Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Ma Vie. Dijon, Librairie Stock (1957).
Chagall, Marc Meyer. Marc Chagall: His Graphic Work. Abrams (1957).
Chagall, Marc San Lazzaro. Xxe Siecle 9. XXe Siecle (1957). two original lithographs by Chagall and Fautrier
Chagall, Marc Jean Paulhan. De Mauvais Sujets. Les Bibliophiles De L'Union Francaises (1958). 10 color etchings with aquatint by Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Derriere Le Miroir 107 108 109. Maeght (1958). original lithographs by Miro, Giacometti, Tal Coat
Chagall, Marc Frank. Le Journal De Anne Frank. L'Alliance Israelite Universelle (1959).
Chagall, Marc. Mein Leben. Stuttgart: Hatje (1959).
Chagall, Marc Cain. Chagall Lithographs I. Andre Sauret, Monte Carlo (1960). 2 lithographs bound in and 1 lithograph for the cover. 26 original lithographs in the set
Chagall, Marc. Derriere Le Miroir 121/122. Maeght Editeur (1960). Original color lithograph by Chagall on cover; 5 other lithographs after Leger, Tal Coat, Miro, Calder; original b/w litho by Francois Fiedler.
Chagall, Marc. Dessins Pour La Bible. Verve (1960). 24 original lithographs
Chagall, Marc. Drawings For The Bible Verve 37/38. Harcourt, Brace New York (1960). 24 original lithographs
Chagall, Marc. Xxe Siecle 14. Xxe Siecle (1960). lithograph by Alechinsky, Chagall, Fiedler
Chagall, Marc Meyer. Marc Chagall: Leben Und Werk. Koln, Dumont Schauberg, (1961).
Chagall, Marc Meyer. Marc Chagall: Life and Work. (1961). 100 copies have an original etching
Chagall, Marc Sutzkever. Siberia. Abelard-Schuman (1961). 9 illustrations by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Bonnefoy. Derriere Le Miroir 132. Maeght (1962). 2 original lithographs by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Leymarie. Glasmalereien Fur Jerusalem. Andre Sauret (1962). 2 original lithographs
Chagall, Marc. Jerusalem Windows. George Braziller / Andre Sauret (1962). 2 original lithographs
Chagall, Marc Cianetti. Kronenhalle 1862-1922-1962. Gustav Zumsteg (1962). lithographs by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Cain. Lithographs Of Chagall. (1962). 1 lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Bauer. Regards Sur Paris. Andre Sauret Editeur (1962). Three original lithographs by Chagall, three original lithographs by Picasso, and lithographs by Beaudin, Carzou, Villon, de Segonzac, Van Dongen, Masson, Brianchon, Braque
Chagall, Marc Leymarie. Vitraux Pour Jerusalem. Musee Des Arts Decoratifs (1962). 2 original lithographs
Chagall, Marc Mourlot. Chagall Lithographe II. A.Sauret, Monte Carlo (1963). 13 original lithographs by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Mourlot. Chagall Lithographs II. Monte Carlo, Andre Sauret (1963). 13 lithographs by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Freund. Jewels For A Crown: The Story Of The Chagall Windows. Mcgraw Hill (1963).
Chagall, Marc Meyer. Life And Work. Harry N. Abrams (1963).
Chagall, Marc Caractere. Noel 1963, 13. Compagnie Francaise D'Edition (1963). Illustrated by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Arland. Avec Chagall. Maeght (1964). 3 original lithographs
Chagall, Marc Arland. Derriere Le Miroir 147. Maeght (1964). 3 original lithographs
Chagall, Marc. Prints From The Mourlot Press. Fernand Mourlot (1964). 18 lithographs by Chagall, Picasso, Miro, Braque, Matisse, Cocteau, Calder, Giacometti, Beaudin, Villon, Minaux, Jenkins, Kito, Glarner and others
Chagall, Marc. How To Be Jewish. Schocken (1965).
Chagall, Marc Lassaigne. La Plafond De L'Opera De Paris. Andre Sauret, Monte Carlo (1965). 1 original color lithograph
Chagall, Marc Prevert. Le Cirque D'Izis. Andre Sauret, Monte Carlo (1965).
Chagall, Marc Warnod. Les Peintres Mes Amis. Editions D'Art Les Heures Claires (1965). Numerous lithographs
Chagall, Marc Adhemar. Lithographies de l'Atelier Mourlot. Redfern Gallery (1965). Contains original colour and monochrome lithographs by Chagall, Picasso(2), Miro, Giacometti, Minaux, Jenkins, Matisse, Masson, Calder and Buffet
Chagall, Marc Chagall. Maitres-Graveurs Contemporains 1965. Berggruen Cie (1965).
Chagall, Marc. Marc Chagall. Paintings, 1955-1964. Perls Galleries (1965). 20 illustrations
Chagall, Marc San Lazzaro. 4 Themes: Chagall, Portes D'Afrique, La Ville, 1907-1917. Xxe Siecle (1966). double-page original color lithograph by Chagall and a single-page original color lithograph by Vieira Da Silva
Chagall, Marc. Brennende Lichter: Mit 39 Zeichnungen Von Marc Chagall. Rowohlt, Hamburg (1966).
Chagall, Marc Leymarie. Chagall Monotypes. Gerald Cramer (1966).
Chagall, Marc. Gravures Maeght Editeur. Redfern Gallery (1966). Original lithographs by Miro (two), Chagall, Kelly, Steinberg, Calder, Chillida, Tal-coat and Ubac
Chagall, Marc Leymarie. Monotypes 1961-1965. G. Cramer, Geneve (1966).
Chagall, Marc Dasilva. Quatre Themes. Xxe Siecle (1966).
Chagall, Marc Lassaigne. The Ceiling Of The Paris Opera. Praeger (1966). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Xxe Siecle No 26. 26. Paris (1966). one original color lithograph in doubel page by Marc Chagall; and one oirginal color lithograph by Vieira da Silva
Chagall, Marc Hofmann. Expressionist Watercolors: 1905-1920. Harry N. Abrams, Inc (1967).
Chagall, Marc. Leben Und Werk. Koln, Dumont Schauber (1968).
Chagall, Marc Malraux. Les Ceramiques Et Sculptures De Chagall. Monaco, Andre Sauret (1968). one original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Cain. Chagall Lithographe III. Editions Andre Sauret (1969). Two original lithographs by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Frenaud. Derriere Le Miroir 182. Maeght Editeur (1969). 2 color lithographs
Chagall, Marc Lassaigne. Dessins Et Aquarelles Pour Le Ballet. Xx Siecle (1969). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Lassaigne. Drawings And Water Colors For The Ballet. Tudor Publishing (1969). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Senghor. Elegie Des Alizes. Editions Du Seuil (1969). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Homage To Marc Chagall. Tudor Publishing New York (1969). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc San Lazzaro. Homage To Marc Chagall. Tudor Publishing (1969). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Hommage a Marc Chagall. Xxe Siecle (1969). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc San Lazzaro. Hommage a Marc Chagall. Xxe Siecle (1969). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Cain. Lithographs Of Chagall 1962-1968 Volume III. Sauret Editeur (1969). Frontispiece and cover are original lithographs
Chagall, Marc Lassaigne. Marc Chagall Drawings And Water Colors For The Ballet. Tudor Publishing Company (1969). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Sorlier. The Lithographs Of Chagall. Sorlier and Mourlot (1969). Frontispiece and cover are original lithographs
Chagall, Marc Malraux. Oeuvres. Gallimard La Gerbe Illustree (1970). four volumes
Chagall, Marc San Lazzaro. XXe Siecle 34. Paris. Revue XXe Siecle (1970). original lithographs by Chagall and Soulages
Chagall, Marc Genauer. Chagall At The Met. New York Metropolitan Opera Association, Inc. (1971).
Chagall, Marc Malraux. Ceramics And Sculptures Of Chagall. Andre Sauret (1972). one lithograph
Chagall, Marc Malraux. Ceramiques Et Sculptures De Chagall. Andre Sauret (1972). one lithograph
Chagall, Marc Aragon. Derriere Le Miroir 198. Maeght Editeur (1972). 3 lithographs by Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Die Biblische Botschaft. Fernand Mourlot (1972). Vorwort Von Jean Chatelain.
Chagall, Marc Malraux. Die Keramiken Und Skulpturen Von Chagall. Monaco, Andre Sauret (1972). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Le Message Biblique. Paris Fernand Mourlot (1972). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Prevert. Souvenirs Et Portraits D'Artistes. Alain Mazo/Leon Amiel/ New York (1972). With 25 original lithographs of the following artists: Brianchon, Masson, Baudin, Fenosa, Esteve, Matisse, Guiramand, Terechkovitch, Braque, Derain, Picasso, Jenkins,Miro,Cocteau,Minaux, Villon, Chagall, Giacometti, Buffet, Wunderlich, Delvaux, Vasarely, Manessier, Lapcque, Sutherland
Chagall, Marc Chagall,. The Biblical Message. Tudor Publishing (1972). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc MalreauxAndres. The Ceramics and Sculptures of Chagall. Editions Andre Sauret (1972). One lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc San Lazzaro. Chagall Monumental Works. XXe Siecle (1973). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Chagall Monumental Works. Tudor Publishing. Co. (1973). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc San Lazzaro. Chagall Monumental Works. Chagall Monumental Works, Tudor (1973). Original color lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Senghor. Lettres D'Hivernages. Edition Du Seuil (1973). 8 illustrations by Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Musee National Message Biblique. Marc Chagall.. Editions Des Musees Nationaux (1973).
Chagall, Marc. The Bibical Message. Tudor (1973). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Mandiargues. Chagall. Leon Amiel Publisher (1974). With an original lithograph
Chagall, Marc Sorlier. Chagall Lithographe 1969-1973 IV. Sauret Editeur (1974). With an original lithograph frontispiece and cover
Chagall, Marc Chatelain. Die Biblische Botschaft. Mourlot (1974). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Sorlier,. The Lithographs Of Chagall 1969-1973 IV. Crown Publishers (1974). With an original lithograph frontispiece and cover
Chagall, Marc Sorlier. Chagall's Posters. A Catalogue Raisonne. Crown Publishers. New York. (1975).
Chagall, Marc Sorlier,. Les Affiches De Chagall. Draeger-Vilo (1975).
Chagall, Marc Gouachen. Zeichnungen, Aquarelle. Koln Mont Schauberg (1975).
Chagall, Marc. Hommage a Marc Chagall. Ebeling Verlag (1976). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Pompidou. La Poesie. Art Et Poesie (1976). color lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Leymarie. Monotypes 1966 - 1975. Gerald Cramer, Geneve (1976). 120 numbered with the original aquatint by ChagallLe Peintre et son Modele
Chagall, Marc Longus. Daphne and Chloe. Braziller (1977). Illustrated by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Maeght. Derriere Le Miroir 225. Maeght (1977). one original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Malraux. Et Sur La Terre. Maeght (1977). 15 original etchings and aquatint by Chagall
Chagall, Marc. Ausgewahlte Graphik. Munich: Haus Der Kunst (1978).
Chagall, Marc Cassou. Vingt-Deux Poemes. St. Gallen: Erker (1978). With 22 original graphics by Bill, Calder, Capogrossi, Chagall, Dix, Dorazio, Ernst, Hajdu, Hartung, Lam, Masson, Miro, Nay, Poliakoff, Santomaso, Soulages, Tanning, Tapies, Tobey, Vieira da Silva, Wotruba, Zadkine. Edition of 150 numbered copies.
Chagall, Marc Sorlier. Chagall By Chagall. Harry N. Abrams (1979). 285 illustrations
Chagall, Marc. Derriere Le Miroir 235. Maeght (1979). 2 original color lithographs by Chagall (L'Acrobate Vert andSoleil au Cheval Rouge)
Chagall, Marc Vollard. Catalogue Complet Des Gravures Executees Par Marc Chagall. Editions Galerie Matignon (1981). Editions Galerie Matignon
Chagall, Marc Dupin. Derriere Le Miroir 246. Galerie Maeght (1981). Original lithograph by Chagall
Chagall, Marc Sorlier. Chagall Lithographe V 1974-1979. Andre Sauret (1984).
Chagall, Marc Sorlier. Chagall Lithographs VI 1980-1985. Crown Publishers (1986).
Chagall, Marc. Arabische Nachte. Munchen, Preste (1987). Vier Erzahlungen aus 1001 Nacht.: Mit einem Vorwort von Norbert Nobis.
Chagall, Marc Rosensaft. Chagall And The Bible. Universe Pub (1987).
Chagall, Marc. L'Oeuvre Grave Catalogue Raisonne. RMN, France (1987).
Chagall, Marc. Passover Haggadah. NY/ Leon Amiel (1987). 25 color plates
Chagall, Marc. Arabian Nights. Munchen, Preste (1988).
Chagall, Marc Discovered. From Russian And Private Collections. Hugh Lauter Levin Associates, Inc. (1988). Over 300 illustrations
Chagall, Marc Homer. Die Odyssee. Stuttgart: Daco-Verlag Gunter Blase (1989). 43 double-page grano-lithographs in 8-12 color, 39 illustrations after the original lithographs by Marc Chagall
Chagall, Marc Sorlier. Le Livre Des Livres - Illustrated Books. Andre Sauret (1990).
Chagall, Marc Provoyeur. Il Messaggio Biblico Di Marc Chagall. Hapax, Milano (1994).
Chagall, Marc Cramer. Catalogue Raisonne Des Livres Illustres. Patrick Cramer, Geneva (1995).
Chagall, Marc. Les Fables De La Fontaine. Editions De La Reunion Des Musees Nationaux (1995).
Chagall, Marc. Les Fables De La Fontaine: Exposition. Reunion Des Musees Nationaux (1995).
Chagall, Marc Cramer. The Illustrated Books: Catalogue Raisonne. Patrick Cramer, Geneva (1995).
Chagall, Marc. Die Grose Chagall Bibel. Katholisches Bibelwerk (1998).
Chagall, Marc Gauss. The Lithographs. Distributed Art Publishers (1998).