Gouaches, Drawings, Watercolors. By Werner Haftmann. Translated from the German by Robert Erich Wolf.

Ein gutes und sauberes Exemplar. - One of the most acclaimed artists of the twentieth century, Marc Chagall has been considered a visual poet, a master of fantasy. This is especially evident in his drawings, water-colors, and in his gouaches, through which Chagall's brilliant imagination and freest improvisation allow his subconscious to come alive on paper. It is here that we see the works most expressive of Chagall's inner vision. Author Werner Haftmann gives the reader a deep understanding of the artist's working methods and creative process in addition to specific critical and art historical discussions of each plate. He is especially insightful about Chagall's very special blend of spontaneity and discipline that produces a body of work of true originality and coloristic excellence. In fact, much of Chagall's work in other mediums originates from just these spontaneous ideas expressed in watercolor and gouache. The content of these works, as in most of Chagall's oeuvre, deals with reminiscences of his childhood in the Russian town of Vitebsk, scenes of Jewish life, Old Testament themes, and later the Parisian dreams. Apart from the specific emotive and mystical Russian-Jewish themes, Chagall is discussed in context of the emerging art movements in Paris, especially Orphism and Cubism, which influenced his own unique style. The 42 color illustrations, chosen with the artist for this book, open less well-known aspects of Chagall's work to the public. ISBN 0810907682