From Daphnis and Chloe: Le repas chez Dryas (The Meal at Dryas’ House)

Hand signed by the artist in pencil “Marc Chagall”, lower right. Numbered in pencil “26/60”, lower left, aside from the editions of 250 on Arches (numbered 1 to 250), and 20 not for sale impressions (numbered I to XX) Published by Tériade.Catalogue reference: Mourlot 334; Sorlier 334

This image is one of forty-two original color lithographs produced by Chagall to illustrate the text of "Daphnis and Chloe", written by the third century Greek author Longus. When it was suggested to Chagall that he illustrate the fable of "Daphnis and Chloe", he began his preparation by making two trips to Greece. It is the very essence of the Greek landscape that was absorbed by the artist and then recreated on pages drenched in blue, shimmering with the sunniest yellow, and shadowed in the palest mauve. Because of the quality, format and number of lithographs it contains, this book constitutes a work of notable importance which, unquestionably, can be placed at the top of the list of illustrated works of our time. Three years of labor on the part of both the artist and the printer were devoted to it.