I am interested in buying a hand signed lithograph by Marc Chagall.
The litho in question is signed in pencil at the bottom "Chagall".  I
don't remember seeing other works by Chagall signed with his last name
only but I also am no expert.  Please let me know if he did or not. 
Thanks!

Dear poggi,

Marc Chagall definitely also signed with his last name "Chagall" only.
I have found one example for this, a certified untitled work offered
by Golden Age Antiques in Port Washington, NY:
http://www.gaantiques.com/description.asp?invnum=IM356

The enlarged signature clearly shows that the work is signed
"Chagall", without the first name:
http://www.gaantiques.com/images/catalog/subcat/2/IM356_8.jpg
http://www.gaantiques.com/images/catalog/subcat/2/IM356_9.jpg

So a work of art not signed with Chagall's full name is not necissarily fake.


Search terms used:
"signed chagall"
://www.google.de/search?q=%22signed+chagall%22&hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&start=80&sa=N


Regards,
Scriptor

I am somewhat pleased with the answer.  It was good  that they came up
with an actual example of what I was looking for. I was hoping for
maybe an official statement published in a bio somewhere that stated
that "Chagall was known to sign his last name only at times on some of
his work."

I'm rather surprised at Scriptor's answer. The issue for you should be
- when was this print published, and could Chagall himself have signed
it? In other words, was it published before his death in 1985? The
Certificate of Authenticity should indicate this, and if it doesn't
then beware. You may be interested in the Question and Comments
(including mine) at   
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=354291

Incidentally, the final link quoted by Scriptor is to a print, which
does appear to have been signed by Chagall himself as "Marc Chagall".

Sorry, forget about my final sentence above. The main point I'm trying
to make is that online and catalogue descriptions are often unclear on
a basic piece of information - when the print was printed and
published. If this was not in the artist's lifetime, then it's hard to
accept the signature as genuine. (Except for Dali, who notoriously
signed hundreds of sheets of blank printing paper before he died!)

Hi Geof-ga-
  
Thanks for your input.
 
I actually had all of that information before asking.  My only        
   question at the moment was whether he signed with one name at
times.  I have since found several examples showing that he did do so.
 The litho I am referring to was signed in 1963 and it also states the
publisher and the limited amount made.  I have also contacted other
buyers who have purchased from this seller to see what they say. I
will be making my decision soon as to whether I will purchase it but
so far it feels good to me.
 Thanks again.

Hi, Poggi

Sounds as though your Chagall is kosher; but - if you haven't seen it
- you may wish to look at the following website I've just come across
-    http://www.artbusiness.com/faketutorial.html