EXPLAINS THAT HIS PAINTING WAS PART OF A HENHOUSE; HEN TRACKS STILL VISIBLE CHAGALL, MARC. Typed Letter Signed, "Chagall," to collector Adolphe A. Juviler ("Dear friend"), in French, describing the history of the painting he just acquired (Couple [1911]), responding to complaints about Chagall's U.S. representative Pierre Matisse, remarking that the retrospective in Israel made a big impression and, in a postscript, wondering why there has been no communication from American sculptor Minna Harkavy. 1 1/4 pages, 4to, written on the recto and verso of a single sheet, "Les Collines" stationery; few short closed tears at fold ends. With the original envelope. Vence, 25 October 1951
25 October 1951: "I am happy to learn that you bought my old painting of 1911, 'The couple.' This painting has a rather complicated history. It was purchased by Gustav Coquiot during the war when I was in Russia. It was removed from my workshop, 'La Ruche' ['The Beehive'] by the concierge or friends. It served to enclose a henhouse before Coquiot bought it and it still bore tracks the hens left. If you look at it closely, you may be able to see these tracks that couldn't be removed! After Coquiot's death this painting was sold to a German, a collector of paintings and maker of cigarettes, and then the history is lost. . . . "What you say about my American representative, I'm well aware of it, but I can't do anything about it. Pierre Matisse only wants paintings on commission and I cannot, at this distance, have accounts of that kind with him. My Paris representative, Gallery Maeght, buys outright. He could very well work with him, if he wanted. . . . "My trip to Israel went very well, despite the almost unbearable heat of August. My retrospective exhibition was well received and seems to have made a big impression. . . ."
