The lithograph (Le printemps) is part of the "Daphnis et Chloé" suite that was published by Tériade, printed by Mourlot, Paris, comes from the edition of 250.
When it was suggested to Chagall that he illustrate the fable of Daphnis et Chloé, he began his preparation by making two trips to Greece. Chagall was delighted with the tale, which analyzed the simple, mutual passion of two abandoned children who are raised by a shepherd. The children are protected by nymphs and the god, Pan, and finally marry after being cruelly separated for a time because of the abduction of the maiden by a pirate.
The work on the preliminary sketches and gouaches for the series involved Chagall in trips to Athens, Delphi, Olympia, Nauplis, and Poros; in the course of these excursions, he fell in love with the Greek sea, archaic sculpture, Greek landscape, and especially Greek light. And it is the very essence of the Greek landscape that was absorbed by the artist and then recreated on pages drenched in blue, shimmering with the shiniest yellow and shadowed in the palest mauve.
It was standard at the time this suite was published in 1961 to use approximately 3 to 6 lithographic stones in creating a single print. Chagall generally used 25-30 individual stones per print in the Daphnis & Chloé suite creating the density and layering of color, which is so unique and rich.
Reference: Mourlot 335
