Magic Flute II, The

Chagall, Marc

145947 Chagall, Marc The Magic Flute II (Flute enchantee II) M.665 1972 16 5/8'' x 12 1/2'' Lithograph in color on Arches wove paper. Signed in pencil lower right. From the numbered edition of 50 examples. One of five lithographs (three in color and two in black and white) illustrating Mozart's Opera. Chagall was commissioned to create two murals for the Metropolitan Opera House in New York in 1966. He was invited to create sets and costume designs for "The Magic Flute" for the inaugural performance. Chagall said of Mozart, "I adore Mozart and I could not refuse this opportunity. He is a god and the Magic Flute is divine, the greatest of all operas...I tried to get as close as I could to Mozart, his humor, wit and devotion." For three years he prepared for the project and Chagall created thirteen large set designs, twenty six small canvases, and one hundred and twenty costumes and masks for the production. He planned to create a suite of lithographs at the same time in honor of Mozart, and created five "Magic Flute" lithographs (M. 663-667), but the project was interrupted so that he could work on the Metropolitan murals and the set and costume designs. The lithographs were finally released in 1972. Chagall's devotion and innovation to the medium of lithography is legendary. He worked tirelessly in creating one of the most extensive bodies of graphic works ever created in any century. His ability to create the look and atmosphere of a pastel chalk drawing or a watercolor in lithography advanced the medium to a level that had not existed previously. He was known to devote countless hours to proofing his lithographs and his perfectionism resulted in many works that were never released and some complete editions that were destroyed by his own hand. Chagall created the drawings for his last lithograph on March 26, 1985 the day of his death. The work was ultimately printed by Charles Sorlier, Chagall's friend, colleague and lithographer less than an hour before he died.

Reg. No.

145947

Size

16 5/8" x 12 1/2"

Year

1972

Medium

LITHOGRAPH

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