Marc Chagall

While living in Berlin, then Paris, from 1922 to 1940, Chagall (1887-1985) learned the technique of etching and received lucrative commissions as a book illustrator. From the hundreds of etchings done during these two decades, Compton has paired 79 black-and-white etchings with colorful paintings and preparatory gouaches, allowing comparison of one medium with another. Rich imagery is evident in four major series of illustrations Chagall created for Gogol's Dead Souls , La Fontaine's Fables , the Old Testament, and his memoirs. Whether the themes are whimsical or solemn, fantasy merges with reality, distinguishing the works of this beguiling artist. Originally published in German, this is the catalog for a recent show in Germany. Clear plates and intelligent text add insight to an often neglected segment of Chagall's oeuvre. Recommended for general and special collections. -- Joan Levin, Indian Trails P.L., Wheeling, Ill.