The artwork titled “Manilov and Chichikov on the Threshold” is an etching on paper created by the artist Marc Chagall circa 1923 in Paris, France. It belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and falls within the illustration genre. This piece is part of the “Dead Souls” series and is currently housed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.
The artwork depicts a dynamic and whimsical scene, characteristic of Chagall’s distinctive style. It captures two figures on the threshold of a doorway. One figure, likely Chichikov given his gentlemanly attire including a hat and cane, seems to be greeting or perhaps negotiating with the other figure, who is likely Manilov. The expressions and body language suggest a moment of significant interaction, infused with a sense of surrealism and dreamlike quality. The background is delicately etched with details of the surrounding environment, which includes doors and ornate patterns, enhancing the narrative depth of the composition. This piece exemplifies Chagall’s ability to blend fantasy and reality, lending a unique visual interpretation to Gogol’s literary work “Dead Souls”.
