Avarice I (L'Avarice I) from The Seven Deadly Sins (Les Sept péchés capitaux)

Avarice I (L'Avarice I) from The Seven Deadly Sins (Les Sept péchés capitaux) by Marc Chagall is a compelling example of the artist's graphic work, forming one installment in a highly symbolic portfolio of sixteen etching and drypoints. Created in 1925 and officially published the following year, this print exemplifies the rich technical execution and profound thematic exploration characteristic of Chagall’s art following his permanent return to Paris.

The work utilizes the combined strengths of etching and drypoint. Etching provides the precise, controlled lines necessary for defining structure, while drypoint yields characteristic burred edges, giving the shadows and forms a dense, velvety texture. This interplay of techniques allows Chagall to achieve a moody, expressive quality perfectly suited to the somber subject matter. The print belongs to a critical period where the French artist began to channel his surrealist impulses into the powerful, concise narrative form of the portfolio.

The subject of Avarice I (L'Avarice I) addresses the spiritual and psychological isolation caused by greed. Consistent with the series, Chagall employs his signature visual language, transforming the vice into a tableau of distorted figures and psychological intensity. While working on illustrations for significant literary projects during this time, Chagall simultaneously pursued personal conceptual series like The Seven Deadly Sins, reflecting an ongoing engagement with myth, morality, and the subconscious.

This etching and drypoint is regarded as an essential contribution to European printmaking in the mid-1920s. Its stark rendering and technical sophistication underscore Chagall's mastery of the medium. The piece is part of the extensive collection of prints held by the Museum of Modern Art, New York.