Drawings for the Bible by Chagall, Marc - 1960

New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1960. First American edition. "This double number of Verve contains the drawings made by Chagall in 1958 and 1959 on Biblical themes which he had not dealt with in his illustrations for the Bible reproduced in Verve 33/34.". Text by Gaston Bachelard. With 24 original lithographs in color printed by Mourlot Frères and 96 reproductions in black and white heliogravure by Draeger Frères. 1 vols. Folio. Hardcover. Dust jacket: Good. Triangular pieces of jacket missing on top of left and right corners as well as a piece from the top/center of the front cover removing 'Marc'. Original pictorial boards, spine chip, corners rubbed, else fine. Original $30.00 retail price on jacket flap. Very handsome copy. Chagall, Marc. First American edition. "This double number of Verve contains the drawings made by Chagall in 1958 and 1959 on Biblical themes which he had not dealt with in his illustrations for the Bible reproduced in Verve 33/34." Text by Gaston Bachelard. With 24 original lithographs in color printed by Mourlot Frères and 96 reproductions in black and white heliogravure by Draeger Frères. 1 vols. Folio. Chagall's inspiration for Drawings for the Bible began with his visit to the Holy Land in the spring of 1931. He drew upon his intense spirituality, and faith to select certain biblical scenes to illustrate. In particular, he chose moments of powerful encounters between God and humanity, which is exemplified even more so with his vibrant color palette. "Chagall's ties with the Bible are very deep indeed; the forms that people its (the Bible's) world are a part of his own inner life, part of the living Jewish heritage, and thus are archetypes of a greater, more intensive world.". atalog raisonné: Mourlot 230-277, Cramer 42, Sorlier 75