It is no secret that Marc Chagall’s entry into creating original lithographs for his own catalogues wasn’t an accidental choice; it was a calculated masterpiece of friendship, commercial genius, and artistic reinvention orchestrated by master printer Fernand Mourlot. Mourlot’s grand philosophy was that fine artists shouldn’t just hand over paintings to be photographed; they needed to treat the lithographic stone as their primary canvas. Chagall essentially entered the shop as an aging apprentice in his 60’s, paired up with assistant and lifelong friend Charles Sorlier. Chagall fell madly in love with the fluid watercolor-like blending that color lithography allowed, making it his favorite medium.
Similarly, Marc Chagall’s entry into deluxe art magazines was driven by his close relationships with two visionary publishers in mid-century Paris: Efstratios Eleftheriades (known as Tériade) and Aimé Maeght; following World War II. Tériade envisioned Verve not as a disposable commercial magazine, but as a portable museum. Likewise, Aimé Maeght a prominent Parisian gallery owner launched a radically unique publication called Derrière le Miroir (DLM), which translates to “Behind the Mirror”. Maeght did not believe in standard, boring exhibition brochures. Every time an artist had a solo show at his gallery, Maeght published a new issue of DLM to act as the exhibition catalogue. He would print these large, unbound booklets on heavy wove paper and give them away to opening-night visitors. Maeght represented the absolute titans of the era, including Miró, Calder, and Matisse. When Chagall joined the gallery’s roster, Maeght applied his signature formula: he would have Chagall sit in the studio, listening to ideas and drawing fresh, original stone lithographs specifically to serve as the covers and fold-outs for his upcoming show’s magazine. By treating these magazines as legitimate venues for first-edition printmaking rather than just a commercial afterthought, both Tériade and Maeght successfully created an entirely new market tier.
Chagall was hooked because it gave his signature, vibrant color palettes massive international distribution, while creating the accessible collecting pipeline that is still vibrant today.
Marc Chagall was so prolific and worked so closely with master printers, the sub-$5,000 tier of the Chagall market is incredibly active and accessible. Unsigned or plate-signed original lithographs extracted from high-end publications typically trade between $200 and $1,200, while his most iconic, highly coveted double-page or premium color lithographs pull between $1,500 and $3,800.
Where to Find Original Chagalls Under $5,000
By focusing on the major art publications and lithographic catalogues, your budget can buy spectacular, authentic Chagall masterpieces.
- The Bible Series (Verve Nos. 33/34 and 37/38): Individual, extracted original color lithographs from these 1956 and 1960 editions—such as Hagar in the Desert or the Dove and Menorah—frequently trade in the $400 to $1,500 range. They are printed by Mourlot and are considered major graphic works.
- The “Paris” Series (Derrière le Miroir No. 66-67-68): This 1954 issue is one of the most famous he ever did. Individual original lithographs from this set, like Night in Paris or Eiffel Tower With Donkey, fetch between $2,400 and $3,800 due to the immense popularity of the subject matter.
- Standard Derrière le Miroir & XXe Siècle Covers/Plates: Single-page lithographs from his mid-career and late-career solo gallery exhibitions (the 1960s and 1970s) are highly affordable. You can regularly find beautifully framed examples via dealers and platforms like 1stdibs or specialty print galleries for $300 to $950.
- Intact Publications: If you prefer the whole book, complete, intact issues of Derrière le Miroir featuring multiple Chagall lithographs can be found on marketplaces like eBay or from rare book dealers for $250 to $500.
Where the Line Moves Above $5,000
While the regular magazine runs give you access to the exact same lithographic stones and ink, the price dynamic shifts drastically if you look for hand-signed luxury items. Deluxe editions of Derrière le Miroir or separate gallery proofs that Chagall hand-signed in pencil instantly jump past your budget, usually commanding anywhere from $5,000 to over $15,000.
A Quick Checklist for Chagall Buyers…
- Verify the Mourlot Number: A reputable dealer will always provide the Mourlot (M.) catalogue raisonné number to prove it is an official, original lithograph.
- Text on Reverse: Many single-page lithographs from these reviews will have French text or another image printed on the back. This is normal and serves as a badge of authenticity.
- Condition of Center Folds: If buying a large double-page print, ensure the center seam hasn’t been aggressively taped or damaged during extraction. If there is no seam on a double page print, it is likely a counterfeit unless the piece was produced as a stand alone lithograph.
Marc Chagall’s printmaking career is legendary, and his original color lithographs are perennially the most popular, sought-after segment of his market. When Pablo Picasso famously remarked on the master painters of mid-century Paris, he noted that “Chagall will be the only painter left who understands color.”
Chagall’s Resilient, Multi-Tiered Market:
The High End: Low-edition, hand-signed gallery proofs (like a signed page from Daphnis and Chloé) easily trade at auction for $30,000 to over $100,000.
The Accessible Tier: Unsigned editions printed off the identical stone surfaces for deluxe magazines (Verve) or his multi-volume Catalogue Raisonné drop cleanly into the $1,000 to $5,000 bracket.
Even high-quality offset prints and book plates after Marc Chagall actively sell in the secondary market. When collectors talk about offset book plates or “after Chagall” prints, they are looking at a market driven by decorative value rather than fine-art rarity. Vintage 1940s–1950s Tipped-in Plates: Early Swiss and French monographs (published by houses like Albert Skira or Éditions du Chêne) featured beautifully rendered offset lithographs on heavy paper backing. These vintage plates are heavily collected and can sell for $300 to $800 on designer platforms like Chairish or 1stdibs. Posthumous & Open-Edition Book Plates: Pages taken from mass-market books published after Chagall’s death in 1985—such as reproductions of his Paris Opéra ceiling—regularly sell on eBay or at regional estate auctions for $150 to $400.