Frontispiece from The Seven Deadly Sins (Les Sept péchés capitaux)

The Frontispiece from The Seven Deadly Sins (Les Sept péchés capitaux) by Marc Chagall, executed in 1925, serves as the introduction to a powerful suite of sixteen prints addressing human vice and folly. This work originated in French artistic circles during a critical period of early modernism, showcasing the importance of graphic work in the artist's oeuvre. The piece is classified specifically as one from a portfolio of etching and drypoints, mediums Chagall expertly employed to achieve complex narrative depth through line.

Utilizing the precision of the drypoint needle, Chagall achieved highly expressive line work and dramatic tonal variation characteristic of the etching process. Unlike his better-known canvases, where vibrant color often defines the mood, this print relies entirely on the interplay of stark black lines and shadow to convey the unsettling, severe tone required for the portfolio’s moral subject matter. These The Seven Deadly Sins prints mark a significant contribution to graphic arts, demonstrating the artist’s ability to translate psychological and emotional complexity into powerful, economical black-and-white forms.

Although the initial etching was created in 1925, the complete portfolio was formally published in 1926. This era witnessed Chagall deeply engaged with major literary and thematic commissions in printmaking, building on his established success as an illustrator. The selection of this classic moral theme aligns the Russian-born French artist with the long-standing European tradition of graphic social commentary. This specific example, essential to understanding Chagall’s skill in producing high-quality illustrative prints, is held in the distinguished collection at the Museum of Modern Art.