Marc Chagall

Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York (acquired from the artist)
Sale: Christie's, New York, 13th May 1999, lot 500
Purchased at the above sale by the father of the present owner

New York, Pierre Matisse Gallery, Marc Chagall. Paintings, Gouaches, Sculpture, 1973, no. 10, illustrated in colour in the catalogue
Tokyo, Takashimaya (and travelling in Japan), Marc Chagall, 1980, no. 15, illustrated in colour in the catalogue
Chiba, Prefectural Museum of Art, Marc Chagall, 1997, no. 15, illustrated in the catalogue

The canvas is unlined and there is no evidence of retouchinig under ultra-violet light. This work is in very good original condition. Colours: Overall fairly accurate in the printed catalogue illustration, although slightly brighter and more varied in the original. There are areas of thick impasto which are not noticable in the catalogue illustration.
"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."

Le cirque rouge et bleu is a bold and resplendent example of the creative energy and sense of theatre which Chagall never ceased to find in the subject of the circus. The artist developed his fascination with the circus during his formative years in Vitebsk, and later in Paris, where he frequently attended performances in the company of Ambroise Vollard. The theme was of great significance to him as a poetic, visionary experience – a transcendental parallel to real life which indulged his imagination and propensity towards pure, lyrical escapism: 'it is a magic word, circus, a timeless dancing game where tears and smiles, the play of arms and legs take the form of a great art' (Marc Chagall, Le Cirque (exhibition catalogue), Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York, 1981, n.p.). This most poignant of themes was to recur often throughout Chagall's œuvre.

 

The present work is a vivid phantasmagoria, a diverse pictorial scheme comprised of many different episodes in the circus performance which dominate the front of the composition, with the audience depicted in the background, the entire canvas separated into distinct colour areas. Numerous figures – both human and animal – and the strong, vibrant palette animate the canvas, creating a palpable sense of energy, movement and excitement of the live performance. Lionello Venturi has alluded to the highly emotive quality with which Chagall imbues the circus theme: 'Chagall's images of circus people [...] are at once burlesque and tender. Their perspective of sentiment, their fantastic forms, suggest that the painter is amusing himself in a freer mood than usual; and the result is eloquent of the unmistakable purity flowing from Chagall's heart. These circus scenes are mature realisations of earlier dreams' (L. Venturi, Marc Chagall, New York, 1945, p. 39).