Marc Chagall

Estate of the artist
Private Collection (acquired from the above; sale: Sotheby's, London, 8th February 2006, lot 463)
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

The canvas is not lined and there are no signs of retouching visible under UV light. This work is in good original condition.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The paintings of Marc Chagall transport their audience into a dream-like, fantastical world. Comprised of visions taken from his mind and his memory, Chagall's paintings consistently combine floating lovers and flying beasts in magical compositions that exude charm and beauty. Chagall's whimsical, folkloric paintings demonstrate the importance he placed upon dreams as a source of pictorial inspiration, as his subjects are repeatedly seen floating through their canvases with little regard for the forces of gravity.

Painted in 1965-70, Les Amoureux dans le bouquet combines three of the most recurring subjects in Chagall's œuvre – the window motif, the vase of flowers and a pair of flying lovers. Chagall first became interested in painting flowers in Toulon in 1924 and claimed that, as he had not known of flowers whilst living in Russia, they quickly came to represent his adopted homeland. In this work we see a bouquet of flowers towering behind a pair of embracing lovers. By the time Chagall painted this work, the uncertainty of the war years had long passed and his style had taken on a new lease of life that reflected the changed context around him. Chagall was now settled in the south of France with his third wife Valentina Brodsky and his happiness in these years can be seen reflected in his luminous palette, as well as his complete abandon to the joy of creation. In this way, Chagall's paintings serve as an expression of his personal thoughts and feelings, rather than as an objective projection of the outside world.