Nozdriov, plate XXII (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes

Nozdriov, plate XXII (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes by Marc Chagall, executed in 1923, is a sophisticated example of early 20th-century French printmaking. This plate, classified as an Illustrated Book work, was created using the complex intaglio processes of etching, aquatint, and drypoint. It belongs to a series of illustrations commissioned for Nikolai Gogol’s seminal satirical novel, Dead Souls. Chagall began work on these plates shortly after his permanent move to Paris, marking a crucial period where he assimilated modern French artistic trends while firmly establishing his unique, fantastic narrative style.

The combination of etching, aquatint, and drypoint allows Chagall to achieve a rich variation in tone and texture. Etching provides the detailed linear contours characteristic of his narrative figures, capturing the absurdity and melancholy of Gogol’s characters. The skillful application of aquatint introduces subtle gradations of shadow and contrast, lending a dramatic atmosphere appropriate for the often dark narrative. The addition of drypoint contributes a soft burr, enhancing the pictorial depth, which is particularly noticeable in the supplementary suite plates such as Nozdriov.

These highly sought-after prints reflect the artist's profound engagement with literary source material, a practice that became central to his career across the entire period spanning 1923-48. Created during Chagall’s formative years in France, the original commission required him to translate Gogol's darkly comic vision of Tsarist Russia into a distinct visual language. Though the publication faced initial delays, its eventual release cemented the project as a landmark achievement in modern illustrated books. This specific plate exemplifies Chagall’s capacity to blend realistic character studies with his signature surreal compositions. The finished work is preserved in the prestigious collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), contributing significantly to the study of modern art and the history of the illustrated book.