At the Gate (Vor dem Tore) from My Life (Mein Leben)

At the Gate (Vor dem Tore) from My Life (Mein Leben) by Marc Chagall, created in 1922 and published the following year, is a key graphic work belonging to the artist's celebrated autobiographical portfolio. This piece is classified within the Illustrated Book category, forming part of a sequence of twenty etchings, fifteen of which also utilized the precise, burr-creating technique of drypoint. The combination of etching and drypoint allowed Chagall to achieve both delicate linearity and rich, velvety shadows in these early, reflective prints, capturing essential moments and memories from his life and early artistic development.

Produced during a significant period of artistic activity in the French cultural sphere, Chagall translated his distinctive visual language-characterized by floating figures, dreamlike scenarios, and recollections of his Russian Jewish heritage-into the stark precision of line etching. The original portfolio, titled Mein Leben, consolidates the highly personal narratives that defined Chagall’s artistic identity as he navigated the burgeoning European art scene following World War I. The composition of At the Gate exemplifies Chagall's ability to merge the mundane and the fantastic, often depicting simple settings imbued with symbolic weight and emotional resonance.

The year 1922, followed by its official publication in 1923, marks a crucial moment when Chagall began actively producing graphic series to complement his painting practice. The medium of etching allowed him to achieve a depth of emotion and texture distinct from his oil canvases. As an essential example of the artist's foray into graphic autobiography, the entire portfolio stands as a foundational text in 20th-century printmaking. This specific work is held in the prestigious collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), recognizing its importance as a masterwork of modern illustration and ensuring its continued accessibility for study.