Marc Chagall Lithographs: A Collector's Guide
A Chagall lithograph can cost under $1,000 or run well into five figures, and both can be entirely original. What separates them is their size, colours and subject matter, how large the edition is, and whether Chagall picked up a pencil at the end and signed it. After twenty years of handling Marc Chagall's lithographs at our gallery in Vancouver, these are the questions I answer most often, so I have put them in one place.
Why Chagall and lithography belong together
Lithography is a planographic process. The artist draws on a flat limestone or plate with a greasy crayon or ink, the surface is dampened, and the printing ink clings only to the greasy drawing. Each colour needs its own stone. We describe the whole process on our Secrets of Printmaking page.
After the Second World War, Chagall began working seriously with colour lithography, discovering in the medium a way to create much as he painted—with layered, luminous colour and the drawing seeming to float above it. Nearly all of his major lithographs were printed at the renowned Mourlot workshop in Paris, where Fernand Mourlot and his master printers also produced works for Picasso, Matisse, Miró and Braque. Chagall's closest collaborator there was the master printer Charles Sorlier, who worked alongside him for decades and played an important role in translating Chagall's distinctive use of colour and line into lithography.
The Chagall lithograph catalogue: what "Mourlot 286" means
Every significant Chagall lithograph can be identified by its reference number in the catalogue raisonné of his lithographic work, generally cited simply as "Mourlot" followed by the catalogue number. Published in six volumes between 1960 and the mid-1980s, this authoritative reference includes every lithograph Chagall created in his lifetime. Ulrike Gauss's Marc Chagall: The Lithographs follows the same numbering system, which is why our listings often include both the Mourlot reference and the corresponding Gauss number.
The catalogue entry provides essential information about each of the 1,050 artworks. This reference is also an important foundation of our Certificates of Authenticity. As explained on our Authenticity page, our certificates are supported by catalogue raisonné references and established scholarly sources that can be independently verified.
If you would like to look up a title yourself, our Marc Chagall catalogue raisonné page lists his lithographs by title, with their year and Mourlot number.
Unsigned lithographs: the Mourlot volumes, Verve and monographs
Some of Chagall's most beautiful original lithographs were created for important art publications and were printed in substantially larger editions, sometimes up to 2,500. Because of the large edition size, Chagall could not individually sign each impression. As a result, these works generally do not carry a pencil signature or edition number, but they are nevertheless original lithographs created by Chagall specifically for these publications.
Perhaps the best-known examples are the lithographs Chagall created for the catalogue raisonné of his own lithographic work. Between 1960 and 1974, he created 28 full-page original lithographs for the six-volume publication. We carry many of these works, generally priced between $975 and $1,500. The Bay of Angels (Mourlot 286, $1,500) is one such example. From the same volume, we also offer The Circus, Woman Juggler and The Angel, each priced at $1,500.
Other important publications also included original Chagall lithographs. In 1956, the celebrated Paris art review Verve devoted an issue to Chagall's biblical imagery and included original lithographs created for the publication. The Prophet Daniel and the Lions (Mourlot 142, $1,075) is one of these works. The following year, Maeght published Jacques Lassaigne's monograph Chagall, for which Chagall also created original lithographs. We carry several examples from this publication, including The Ladder (Mourlot 200, $1,350).
These works are genuine original lithographs created by Chagall. Their more accessible prices reflect their larger edition sizes and the fact that they were not individually signed and numbered. They therefore represent a different category from Chagall's hand-signed limited editions, while still offering collectors an authentic original work created by the artist. Browse our extensive Chagall collection.
Hand-signed, numbered Chagall lithographs
At the other end of the spectrum are the lithographs Chagall created in smaller editions. These were generally hand-signed by Chagall in pencil, usually in the lower right, with the edition number written in the lower left. Artist's proofs are typically marked E.A. (épreuve d'artiste) instead of being numbered within the regular edition; our Terminology page explains these and other commonly used annotations.
A few examples from our collection illustrate the range:
- La Vache Bleue (1967, Mourlot 488), hand signed and numbered in pencil, from an edition of 75, for $17,500.
- Le Cheval Vert (The Green Horse, 1973, Mourlot 698), hand signed and numbered in pencil, from an edition of 50. Price on request.
- Recollections of a Spring (1983, Mourlot 1019), signed in pencil lower right and numbered lower left, from an edition of 50. Price on request.
- Les Lilas (1980), published by Maeght, hand signed in pencil lower right and inscribed E.A. lower left. An exceptionally large work on a sheet measuring 45.5" × 29.5". Price on request.
And then there is L'Envolée Magique (The Magic Flight) (1980, Mourlot 980), hand signed and numbered, from an edition of only 50. Price on request. When Maeght asked Chagall to create a group of large lithographs, the artist was given considerable freedom over both their dimensions and subjects. Chagall asked his longtime collaborator Charles Sorlier for the largest size the lithographic presses could accommodate, and the project ultimately grew into a series of fourteen monumental lithographs. The Magic Flight and Les Lilas are among them, with the image alone measuring an impressive 37" × 23.1" and the paper 45.5" × 29.5".
Marc Chagall lithograph signed value: why the price gap is so large
When people ask me about the difference in value between a signed and an unsigned Chagall lithograph, I usually point to four main factors.
Edition size. Rarity matters. A lithograph created in a large edition will generally be considerably less expensive than one from an edition of only 50 or 75 impressions. The smaller the edition, the fewer examples are available to collectors.
Signature. Chagall's hand signature carries considerable value. It gives an individual impression a personal connection to the artist and distinguishes it from any other impressions in the edition. Hand-signed lithographs were also typically created in much smaller editions, adding to their rarity and desirability.
Scale. Size matters. A large lithograph can have a much greater visual presence, and a work on a monumental scale often requires greater technical effort and involvement from the artist. Chagall's largest lithographs are particularly impressive when seen in person.
Subject matter. Certain images are immediately recognizable as Chagall. Lovers, floating figures, bouquets, musicians, animals, villages and other familiar symbols of his visual world tend to have particularly strong appeal. When a work brings together several of these iconic elements, it expresses the world of Chagall especially well, and collectors are often willing to pay more for it.
Buying a Chagall lithograph: what to ask
Before you buy any Chagall lithograph, from us or anyone else, ask for these details in writing:
- The Mourlot catalogue number.
- Whether it is signed in pencil, signed in the plate, or unsigned.
- The edition size, and whether the impression is numbered or an artist's proof.
- Image and paper size, and the condition of the margins.
You can browse our extensive selection in the Marc Chagall collection. Every artwork comes with its documentation and a Certificate of Authenticity. We stand behind every work as original with a lifetime guarantee.
If a work interests you, email gallery@chalirosso.com or call 604.733.3594 for a price and condition report. Submit an inquiry; we offer installment plans in some cases. You are welcome to see them in person at the gallery, Tuesday to Sunday.
Frequently asked questions
Are unsigned Chagall lithographs original?
The absence of a pencil signature does not make a lithograph less original. What matters is that the image was originally created by Chagall as a lithograph and is documented in the catalogue raisonné, with its Mourlot reference number. These unsigned original lithographs are generally more affordable than Chagall's hand-signed, small-edition works, but they are still genuine original lithographs by the artist.
How can I tell if a Chagall lithograph is hand signed?
A hand signature is in pencil, sits on the paper rather than in the printed image, and usually appears lower right with the edition number or E.A. lower left. A signature printed from the stone looks flat and is part of the image.
What is the Chagall catalogue raisonné for lithographs?
The Chagall catalogue raisonné for lithographs is the authoritative six-volume reference documenting Marc Chagall's lithographic work, published between 1960 and the mid-1980s. Commonly referred to simply as "Mourlot," after the first volumes prepared by Fernand Mourlot, it records each lithograph with a catalogue number, such as Mourlot 286, along with detailed information. These Mourlot numbers are widely used by galleries, collectors, auction houses and scholars to identify Chagall lithographs and are an essential reference when establishing the authenticity of a work.
How much is a signed Marc Chagall lithograph worth?
The value depends on the image, edition size, date, scale and condition. At our gallery, hand-signed and numbered Chagall lithographs currently start at $17,500 for La Vache Bleue, while larger works such as The Magic Flight are priced on request.
Who was Charles Sorlier?
Charles Sorlier was a master printer at the Mourlot workshop and Chagall's long-time collaborator. He printed many of Chagall's lithographs, and he himself also created some lithographs based on Chagall's designs, under his supervision. Those are catalogued separately.