Father Mitiaï and Father Miniaï (Le Père Mitiaï et le père miniaï), plate XXIX (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes

Father Mitiaï and Father Miniaï (Le Père Mitiaï et le père miniaï), plate XXIX (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes is an evocative etching and drypoint created by Marc Chagall in 1923. This intricate print showcases Chagall's unique graphic interpretation of early 19th-century Russian literature, specifically serving as one of the plates for the illustrated book edition of Nikolai Gogol’s satirical novel, Dead Souls (Les Âmes mortes).

Commissioned by the influential French dealer Ambroise Vollard, Chagall began the extensive project in 1923 while residing in Paris. The comprehensive effort resulted in nearly one hundred individual prints, forming a significant portion of Chagall's graphic output spanning the 1923-48 period. The artist utilized the precise, demanding techniques of etching and drypoint to render the tragicomic figures of Gogol's world with his characteristic blend of expressive distortion and narrative depth. The scene depicting Father Mitiaï and Father Miniaï uses sharp, gestural lines and deep tonal variations achievable through the intaglio process, highlighting the spiritual and sometimes grotesque aspects of the narrative.

Though rooted in Russian subject matter, the execution and publication of this seminal work occurred within the French artistic environment of the mid-1920s, underscoring the international scope of the illustrated book (livre d’artiste) movement. Chagall’s decision to commit to such detailed printmaking reflects the modernist interest in graphic arts as a primary medium for creative expression, establishing him as a master of the form.

This particular work, one of the supplementary prints created for the final deluxe edition, exemplifies the technical mastery achieved by Chagall during this fertile period. These important prints from Dead Souls are widely recognized for translating Gogol's complex social commentary into powerful visual art. This etching and drypoint is held within the extensive collection of the Museum of Modern Art, confirming its status as a cornerstone example of modern French printmaking and illustration.