Estate of the artist
Helly Nahmad Gallery, New York (acquired from the above)
Sale: Matsa, Tel Aviv, 19th June 2005, lot 150b
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

Bella Meyer, Chagall et les fleurs, Monte Carlo, 1995, illustrated in colour pp. 8 & 9

The canvas is not lined and there are no signs of retouching visible under UV light. This work is in good original condition. Colours: The pink hues are more subtle and the yellows and greens much stronger in the original.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Painted in 1981, Deux bouquets à l'atelier is an impressive example of one of Chagall's most-loved subjects and settings. The viewer is presented with the artist's studio in very neutral and natural tones, to the left of which stands the artist's easel. To the far right of the studio, we are offered a glimpse of the artist himself as he stands very modestly with his palette in hand. The main subjects of this painting which preside over the entire scene in bright bursts of colour are in fact two very large magnificent vases of flowers.

The subject of colourful bouquets of flowers fascinated Chagall from the 1920s onwards and was a theme he would continue to explore throughout his artistic career. The artist was first struck by the charm of flowers in Toulon in 1924 as he later claimed that he had not known flowers in Russia. Flowers hence became a representation of France for him. Writing about the subject of flowers in Chagall's work, Franz Meyer commented: 'Many are simple still lifes with a bunch of red roses and white lilacs; in others, pairs of lovers and air-borne fiddlers gambol through space. The atmosphere encompasses and pervades the flowers like a magically light, airy fluid, vibrant with their vitality' (Franz Meyer, Marc Chagall, Life and Work, New York, 1961, p. 369). In the present work, it is the vases of flowers that dominate and animate the entire scene, n🥂ot only with their impressive scale but with their strong presence. The bouquets, made up of large vibrant daubs of intense yellows, blues, greens and purples offer strong contrast against the more pale and neutral backdrop. It is particularly this heightened contrast that amplifies the impact of the flowers, thereby adding great vivacity and animation to an otherwise very calm and tranquil view.