Mob of Peasants (Attroupement des paysans), plate XXVIII (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes

Mob of Peasants (Attroupement des paysans), plate XXVIII (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes is a significant print created by Marc Chagall in 1923. Executed using etching and drypoint, this powerful image forms part of the supplementary suite for Chagall’s comprehensive illustrations of Nikolai Gogol’s seminal satirical novel, Dead Souls. The artist was commissioned by the Parisian art dealer Ambroise Vollard to create over one hundred illustrations for the text, a project that defined Chagall’s production during his return to France in the early 1920s.

The medium of etching and drypoint lends itself perfectly to the grim, darkly humorous atmosphere of Gogol's 19th-century tale of bureaucratic corruption and rural poverty. Chagall captures the essence of the novel’s social critique through sharp, deliberate lines and areas of intense shading, achieved primarily through the drypoint technique. This particular work, depicting a dense gathering of figures, emphasizes the collective anxiety and displacement of the marginalized populace within the narrative. The condensed arrangement of the figures creates a feeling of claustrophobia and raw energy, conveying the desperation referenced throughout the book.

Although the subject matter is deeply rooted in Russian culture and history, the entire series of prints was conceived during Chagall's crucial period of professional activity in Paris, positioning the work within the context of French modernism. This project falls within the designated period of 1923-48 for the artist’s mature printmaking career. Chagall’s masterful handling of the graphic medium secures this work’s place as a seminal example within the Illustrated Book classification. While the final publication of Les Âmes mortes faced delays due to the death of Vollard, the original plates were eventually printed posthumously. This evocative etching and drypoint remains in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, underscoring its importance as a key example of the artist's engagement with classic literature.