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Lot Essay
The Comité Marc Chagall has confirmed the authenticity of this work.
Painted between 1978 and 1980, Corbeille de fruits aux amoureux, is a joyfully abundant and exuberant painting that combines two of the central elements of Chagall’s uniquely personal artistic iconography: a bouquet of flowers, as well as an amorous, floating couple at the top of the image. From the early 1920s, bouquets of flowers had become a symbol of romantic love in Chagall’s work, and he continued to use the theme of flowers constantly throughout his career.
The exotic basket laden with fruits and the vase of brightly blossoming flowers in Corbeille de fruits aux amoureux, evoke a sense of abundance and plenty. At the time that this work was painted, Chagall was living in the hilltop town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, in the South of France. After the Second World War, the small town on the French Riviera had emerged as a thriving artistic centre, animated by the presence of Picasso and Matisse. Chagall described his life in Vence as, ‘a bouquet of roses’ (Chagall quoted in S. Alexander, Marc Chagall: A Biography, New York, 1978, p. 492); a peaceful idyll, which is reflected in the sensuous, lyrical style and rich colours of Corbeille de fruits aux amoureux.
An explosion of colour, Corbeille de fruits aux amoureux demonstrates the artist’s great love and mastery of colour. Francoise Gilot, one of Picasso’s lovers and muses, wrote that the Spanish master once said, ‘When Matisse dies, Chagall will be the only painter left who understands what colour really is… Some of the last things he’s done in Vence convince me that there’s never been anybody since Renoir who has the feeling for light that Chagall has.’ (Picasso quoted in F. Gilot and C. Lake, Life with Picasso, New York, 1964, p. 282). Filled with brilliant light and colour, Corbeille de fruits aux amoureux is an image that demonstrates Chagall’s ceaseless enthusiasm and artistic creativity.
Painted between 1978 and 1980, Corbeille de fruits aux amoureux, is a joyfully abundant and exuberant painting that combines two of the central elements of Chagall’s uniquely personal artistic iconography: a bouquet of flowers, as well as an amorous, floating couple at the top of the image. From the early 1920s, bouquets of flowers had become a symbol of romantic love in Chagall’s work, and he continued to use the theme of flowers constantly throughout his career.
The exotic basket laden with fruits and the vase of brightly blossoming flowers in Corbeille de fruits aux amoureux, evoke a sense of abundance and plenty. At the time that this work was painted, Chagall was living in the hilltop town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, in the South of France. After the Second World War, the small town on the French Riviera had emerged as a thriving artistic centre, animated by the presence of Picasso and Matisse. Chagall described his life in Vence as, ‘a bouquet of roses’ (Chagall quoted in S. Alexander, Marc Chagall: A Biography, New York, 1978, p. 492); a peaceful idyll, which is reflected in the sensuous, lyrical style and rich colours of Corbeille de fruits aux amoureux.
An explosion of colour, Corbeille de fruits aux amoureux demonstrates the artist’s great love and mastery of colour. Francoise Gilot, one of Picasso’s lovers and muses, wrote that the Spanish master once said, ‘When Matisse dies, Chagall will be the only painter left who understands what colour really is… Some of the last things he’s done in Vence convince me that there’s never been anybody since Renoir who has the feeling for light that Chagall has.’ (Picasso quoted in F. Gilot and C. Lake, Life with Picasso, New York, 1964, p. 282). Filled with brilliant light and colour, Corbeille de fruits aux amoureux is an image that demonstrates Chagall’s ceaseless enthusiasm and artistic creativity.