CHAGALL at Jane Kahan Gallery

Chagall Tapestry "La Vie" - Yvette Cauquil Prince

Detail of the Chagall tapestry "La Vie," woven by master craftswoman Yvette Cauquil-Prince and sold by the Jane Kahan Gallery at the Moscow International Fine Art Fair

MARC CHAGALL (1887- 1985) is by many standards one of the most successful artists of the twentieth century. Raised in a poor Jewish family in the village of Vitebsk in old Russia, he forged a unique career in virtually every artistic medium. From his early Cubist paintings to his book illustrations, stage sets, ceramics, stained glass windows, tapestry and fine art prints, Chagall’s haunting, exuberant, poetic images have enjoyed universal appeal.

CHAGALL TAPESTRIES

Chagall first became interest in tapestry when he was commissioned by the State of Israel to create three tapestries for the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament.  The Knesset Chagall tapestries were woven at the Gobelins, the “Royal Manufacture” created by Louis XIV.  To this day Gobelins tapestries are not available for sale, they are only woven as gifts of state.  Chagall, however, was determined to continue working in this medium and sought out Yvette Cauquil-Prince, a master craftswoman who had worked with other important artists including Picasso.

Chagall and Cauquil-Prince discovered themselves to be kindred spirits and collaborated on over thirty tapestries during Chagall’s lifetime.  The Chagall family subsequently granted her permission to continue her work in the same spirit and and with the same quality after the artist’s death.  Chagall tapestries by Yvette Cauquil-Prince hang in museums throughout the world and were the only authorized Chagall tapestries ever available for sale.  We were privileged to work personally with Madame Cauquil-Prince before her own death in 2005.

PRINTS, PAINTINGS AND CERAMICS

For many years the JANE KAHAN GALLERY has helped collectors purchase top quality Chagall paintings and works on paper. We are known particularly as a source for Chagall graphics and tapestries.Marc Chagall Ceramic, Madoura, Vallauris

Alexander Kahan was Chagall’s agent for lithographs in North America during the last decades of the artist’s life, and we still maintain a large collections of top quality Chagall prints. Chagall was a true graphic artist who participated in every detail of the creation of his prints. Working with chromiste Charles Sorlier and the master printer Fernand Mourlot, he made over a thousand different limited edition lithographs and numerous etchings for which there is enormous world-wide demand.

Like Picasso, Marc Chagall worked on ceramics. However, no Chagall ceramics were made into editions and they are exceedingly rare. We are privileged to deal in these pieces.

Condition is a paramount concern when it comes to prints and Chagall forgeries are not unknown. Unless a collector is thoroughly knowledgeable about this complex market, he would do well to consider pursuing this artist with a respected art dealer whose expertise includes fine prints.

Buying art long distance — whether by mail, over the phone or through the Internet — is problematic. The Jane Kahan Gallery does not quote prices except to established clients, nor can we provide informal estimates of pieces that you may own (though we do perform written Appraisals for a fee). Our function is to help our clients acquire the works of art that best suit their tastes and pocketbooks.
That is why we seek a direct relationship that will better help us to understand your needs. Please give us a call to discuss your specific needs. If you plan to come to New York in the near future, we’d be happy to set up an appointment so that we can get to know one another. Or just drop by when you’re in the neighborhood. We look forward to hearing from you.