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Lot Essay
The Comité Marc Chagall has confirmed the authenticity of this work.
Executed in 1922-1923, this striking drawing of a Russian peasant examining the front foot of a donkey is one of the last works of Chagall's celebrated Russian period. In the sparse style of its execution, Personnage et l'âne relates most closely to Chagall's drawings and engravings for the State Jewish Chamber Theatre in Moscow which he made circa 1920 and to the remarkable series of drypoint engravings which were used as illustrations for Gogol's seminal novel Dead Souls. This latter series, which Chagall began shortly after leaving the new Soviet Union for Berlin in 1923, was commissioned by the Paris art dealer and publisher Ambroise Vollard. It consisted of a total of 107 engravings, and was only completed in 1926.
Executed in 1922-1923, this striking drawing of a Russian peasant examining the front foot of a donkey is one of the last works of Chagall's celebrated Russian period. In the sparse style of its execution, Personnage et l'âne relates most closely to Chagall's drawings and engravings for the State Jewish Chamber Theatre in Moscow which he made circa 1920 and to the remarkable series of drypoint engravings which were used as illustrations for Gogol's seminal novel Dead Souls. This latter series, which Chagall began shortly after leaving the new Soviet Union for Berlin in 1923, was commissioned by the Paris art dealer and publisher Ambroise Vollard. It consisted of a total of 107 engravings, and was only completed in 1926.