Les cyclamens by Marc Chagall

Marc Chagall
1887-1985 I Russian

Les cyclamens

Signed "Marc Chagall" (lower right)
Oil on canvas

Marc Chagall’s Les cyclamens is a vivid example of his whimsical and romantic artistic vision, a hallmark of his later works. Painted in 1974, this mesmerizing work captures the dreamlike quality of Chagall's oeuvre, where color and symbolism intertwine to evoke deep emotions of love and connection. In this composition, Chagall revisits his enduring themes of romance and unity, drawing upon the blissful memories of his first wife, Bella, and her timeless influence on his work.

Les cyclamens features a diaphanous couple floating above two bouquets of cyclamen flowers in complementary red and white hues. Chagall creates a strong sense of unity through this parallel between human and floral forms, a symbol of the deep emotional bonds he often portrays. The vibrant colors of the floral arrangements in the foreground, contrasting with the translucent couple above, demonstrate the artist's mature mastery of color and composition. Executed nearly two decades after his exploration into stained glass, the glowing, almost ethereal quality of Les cyclamens points to Chagall’s ability to infuse his canvases with light and luminosity.

Chagall’s love for flowers was deeply personal and a recurring symbol throughout his career. As noted by poet and art historian André Verdet, flowers in Chagall’s work often expressed joy but could also carry a melancholic note, reflecting the artist's memories of lost love. Cyclamens, believed to be aphrodisiacs or love charms in Southern France, where Chagall spent his later years, add another layer of romantic symbolism to the piece. Moreover, Chagall’s lifelong association with love and his use of the couple as a central motif are eloquently captured in this work. His devotion to Bella persisted even after her passing in 1944, and despite remarrying, her influence remained a profound source of inspiration for him until the end of his life.

Marc Chagall was born in Vitebsk, Russia, to a large, close-knit Jewish family of herring merchants. He began studying painting in 1906 under the famed artist Yehuda Pen. In 1907, he moved to St. Petersburg and joined the school of the Society of Art Supporters. In 1910, Chagall relocated to Paris to be near the art community of the Montparnasse district, and he would eventually become a French citizen. Amongst the turmoil of the 20th century, including the Soviet regime and the outbreak of WWII, Chagall would continue to move between Russia, France and the United States throughout his life. Chagall died at the age of 97 in Saint-Paul de Vence, France, in 1985, leaving behind an incredible body of work that is unquestionably one of the most celebrated of the 20th century. His paintings have remained prized highlights in public and private collections alike, with works belonging to important institutions across the globe including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Tate Modern in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

This work is accompanied by its certificate of authenticity issued by Jean-Louis Prat on behalf of the Comité Chagall, dated 17 November 2010 (no. 2010078).

Painted 1974

Canvas: 32“ high x 25 1/2” wide (81.28 x 64.77 cm)
Frame: 42 1/2“ high x 36 1/4” wide x 4“ deep (107.95 x 92.08 x 10.16 cm)

Provenance:
Galerie Maeght, Paris
Hammer Galleries, New York
Halcyon Gallery, London
Private collection, London
Private collection, London