MARC CHAGALL | Profil du peintre

Estate of the artist
Private Collection
Acquired from the above by the present owner in 1996

The canvas is not lined. Examination under UV light reveals no evidence of retouching. Colours are fresh and well preserved. This work is in overall very good 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."

Profil du peintre was made during Chagall's later years in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, the town where Chagall settled permanently after many years spent in exile, moving from Russia to France and the United States. Profil du peintre was painted in 1982, in an era when the artist, while nostalgic for his youth, was celebrating the joyous, peaceful life he led in Saint-Paul-de-Vence with his second wife Vava. At the age of 95 years, and as a widely acclaimed and highly sought after artist, Chagall could reflect on his entire oeuvre in total peace. Chagall conceived much of his later work as a return to his beginnings — the spark of first love and childhood, while paying attention to the fleeting sadness of transience and loss. Profil du peintre contains several of Chagall's favourite themes and motifs. Here, Chagall rigorously pursues the figure of the self-portrait. Dominating the composition, in a red sky, the white face of the floating artist merges, like a two-headed being, with the image of Bella, his first, late wife, as the celestial Bride, symbolically embodying the women who went on to share the artist's life after her. The lovers — she, the woman, and he, the male artist — are recurring figures in Chagall's fantastical art. In contrast to the couple, the rooster, also a frequent occurrence in his work and a symbol of virility, dazzles through its two splashes of red. The artist asserts his identity as a painter with a large white palette, reminiscent of the colour of his face, which is suspended in the centre of the work. Chagall defines himself as both a painter and a lover. The couple stands on the rooftops of a blue city, a familiar landscape in Chagall's native Vitebsk, where the artist's childhood home — which was previously represented in La Maison Rouge (1955, Hanover Sprengel Museum) — is distinguished by the visual power of its construction, as well as by the radiance of the colour red. A cornerstone of his personal symbolism, this setting and this house enriched his innermost world until the very end. Russia remained a central concern, especially following Chagall's visit in 1971 after an absence of over fifty years.
The solid red of the sky illuminates the blue pigment, enveloping the ethereal scene, punctuated by two brushstrokes and inspired by the sea and the sky of Saint-Paul-de-Vence.



The authenticity of this work has kindly been confirmed by the Comité Chagall.