Autographs and Manuscripts
CHAGALL, Marc (1887-1985). Russian-born Artist. ()
Autograph Letter Signed ("Marc Chagall") to a Monsieur Zervas, 1 page 8vo in French written vertically on the entire "correspondance" side of a picture postcard showing a valley in the Auvergne. n.p., n.d. [probably 1930's].
Chagall had evidently been asked by his correspondent to give his opinion of the sculptor Aristide Maillol, celebrated for his calm and monumental female nudes. Maillol, a quarter of century Chagall's senior, had begun his career as a painter and tapestry maker, and turned to sculpture at the age of forty when his eyesight began to fail. He was a lifelong friend of Matisse and while not especially close to Chagall the two men certainly knew each other. Chagall had lived in Paris for many years, and as this postcard demonstrates was fluent in French, but here expresses his diffidence about writing in French for publication.Trans: "Thank you for your compliments and for the invitation to express my opinion on Maillol. Here are a few lines [not present]. Unfortunately, I lack some words necessary to translate them into French. I therefore send them to you in Russian, hoping that you will excuse me. Perhaps Mr. Lissim (for example) will be good enough, I thank him in advance, to translate my ordinary words while trying to retain their simplicity. I would be very grateful if you could show me the translation beforehand . . ."
Stock Code: AU3714
