Daphnis and Chloe and Other Lovers: Lithographs by Marc Chagall
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
This exhibition celebrates Marc Chagall’s mastery of printmaking and color through fifty lyrical lithographs illustrating the ancient Greek romance Daphnis and Chloe, written by Longus in the 2nd century A.D.
Chagall reimagines the pastoral tale of a young goatherd and shepherdess destined for love, infusing the narrative with his characteristic dreamlike imagery and radiant palette. Themes of devotion, longing, and the triumph of love—central to Chagall’s life and artistic practice—emerge vividly throughout the series.
Initially hesitant to accept the 1939 commission from publisher Tériade, Chagall returned to the project after the death of his close friend Pierre Bonnard and during his joyful newlywed years with Valentina Brodsky. Between 1952 and 1954, Chagall traveled through Greece, sketching the landscapes of Lesbos and absorbing its Mediterranean light. Working closely with master printer Charles Sorlier, he developed one of the most celebrated lithographic series of his career, published in 1961 as a limited-edition book.
Chagall’s determination to capture the brilliance and atmosphere of the Mediterranean countryside imbues each print with emotional depth and visual poetry. The exhibition invites visitors to experience the romance, imagination, and color that make Chagall one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century.
Organized by Carole Sorell, Inc. and curated by David S. Rubin, this exhibition is presented with generous support from the Park West Foundation.
on view February 12–May 24, 2026
