The artwork, titled “Illustration to Nikolai Gogol’s “Dead Souls”,” was created by Marc Chagall around 1923 in Paris, France. It is an etching on paper and belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. As part of an illustration genre, this piece is part of a series based on Nikolai Gogol’s “Dead Souls.” The artwork is currently housed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.
The artwork depicts a village scene rendered in a detailed yet whimsical style characteristic of Chagall. It shows a panoramic view of a bustling street, perhaps during a parade or procession. Various figures, including people in carriages, those on horseback, and numerous pedestrians, populate the scene. The finely etched lines create a sense of motion and engagement among the inhabitants, while the background is filled with houses, giving depth to the composition. The detailed expressions and interactions amongst the characters capture the essence of village life, inspired heavily by Gogol’s narrative.
