This is an original 1956 black and white heliogravure of Joshua commanding the sun to stand still near Gibeon. This image was created in accordance with Joshua 10: 12-14.Marc Chagall (1887-1985), the celebrated Jewish artist, is remembered for his early modernist work, which incorporated elements of Fauvism, Cubism, and Symbolism. Pablo Picasso said of him, "When Matisse dies, Chagall will be the only painter left who understands what color really is." Ambroise Vollard, the French art dealer, commissioned Chagall to create The Bible illustrations for the Old Testament, although unfortunately, he passed away before the project saw completion. Chagall could have completed the series in France, but instead traveled to Palestine, and became completely immersed in the history of Jews. He worked obsessively on the series, and traveled to Amsterdam to study the religious paintings of Rembrandt and El Greco. Chagall perceived the Old Testament as a human story, and portrays his characters as such. As Chagall was working on these pieces, the Third Reich was rising to power in Germany, and although the Germans had once swooned over his paintings, the pieces were classified as degenerate art, and destroyed. Chagall was located in France at the time, and in October of 1940, began to see Germany as a threat to his safety. With the help of Alfred Barr of the New York Museum of Modern Art, Chagall's name was added to the list of European artists the United States should try saving. Chagall received a forged United States visa and was able to flee the country in May of 1941 with his unfinished Bible series. The images were published by Swiss publisher Teriade in 1956 to create an extraordinary issue for the art portfolio, Verve.
This piece was illustrated by Chagall, Marc. Artist signature in print - top right of image.
Please note that there is printing on the reverse..../ 1956 Heliogravure Gibeon Joshua Sun Book Troops Biblical Religious Art Chagall - Original Heliogravures / Sun Furniture
