Authenticate Marc Chagall — Derrière le Miroir
Gallery publications containing both original lithographs and reproductions.
Vitebsk
Derrière le Miroir was a periodical published by Galerie Maeght containing original lithographs by the artists it covered, alongside text and reproductions. Chagall issues are common and are the single most frequent source of confusion in his print market.
Some plates in these publications are original lithographs printed from stones the artist worked on; others are photomechanical reproductions of existing works. The catalogue records which is which, and the loupe confirms it.
Sheets are frequently removed from the publication and framed individually, which is legitimate but means the buyer loses the context that would have identified the plate. Trimmed margins are common and reduce value.
What a Derrière le Miroir does on the secondary market
Modest and accessible for original lithographs; decorative only for the reproduction plates. Condition and untrimmed margins matter disproportionately.
An orientation for honest, unrestored condition — never an appraisal, and never a quotation.
Questions we are asked
- Are all Derriere le Miroir plates original lithographs?
- No. These publications contain both original lithographs printed from stones the artist worked on and photomechanical reproductions of existing works. The catalogue records which is which, and a loupe confirms it.
- Does a trimmed margin make a Chagall sheet worthless?
- No, but it reduces the value. Sheets are frequently removed from the publication and framed individually, and trimming is common; the sheet remains what it is and is priced lower.
Lovenhall ArtRead the work itself
The checks tell you how it was made. The instrument tells you what it appears to be, and roughly what its kind fetches.