This rare, pencil-signed offset lithographic book plate was based on “Moïse et la pierre d'Horeb” (Moses and the Striking Rock), a religious painting by Marc Chagall (1887-1985) created in 1931 in Paris, France. It is also commonly known as “Moses Striking Water From A Rock”. This lithograph appeared in the 1960 "Drawings for the Bible". This piece of artwork was acquired through an estate sale in Orange, CA.

The gallery-quality frame measures approx 24 in x 26 in. The paper/image size is approx 9 in x 11.75 in. The image is in pristine condition with bright colors and no fading.

“Drawings for the Bible, first published in 1960 as a limited edition artist’s book of a series of lithographs, depicts some of the Bible’s most beloved stories, including the Creation, the expulsion from Paradise, the rivalry of Cain and Abel, Hagar’s escape to the desert, and Job’s travails. Like all of his work, Chagall’s depictions of these stories are filled with color and bold strokes, symbolism and tradition, humanity and poetry.

Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was a Russian-French artist and pioneer of modern art. His work is known for its dreamlike visions, intense colors, and visual language that recorded the 20th century. Chagall was influenced by Russian folk art, Orthodox church icons, Jewish artistic tradition, and contemporary Western work. His work anticipated the dream-like imagery of Surrealism.

In 1931, in preparation for what would end up being 105 etchings of the Bible, Chagall travelled to the Holy Land for two months. ‘I wanted to see Palestine,’ he said in later life. ‘I wanted to touch the soil.’ Staying true to his Hasidic Jewish roots, he stuck to episodes from the Old Testament (aka, the Hebrew Bible), ranging from the Creation of Man to David slaying Goliath.