Pétrouchka, plate V (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes is a pivotal print created by Marc Chagall in 1923. Executed in the complex intaglio mediums of etching and drypoint, this piece belongs to the tradition of the French livre d'artiste (artist's book), being published as part of a supplementary suite accompanying Chagall’s commissioned illustrations for Nikolai Gogol’s satirical epic, Dead Souls.
The subject, Pétrouchka, is drawn from Igor Stravinsky's 1911 ballet concerning a melancholy puppet, a figure that resonated deeply with the Russian-born artist. Chagall created the original series of 96 etchings for Dead Souls between 1923 and 1927 at the request of the French art dealer Ambroise Vollard, marking an important phase in the artist’s prolific output during the 1923-48 period. The work's classification as an Illustrated Book emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between the literary narrative and the visual interpretation provided by Chagall.
The technique employed, etching enhanced by drypoint, lends the image a characteristic intensity and textural richness. Chagall's mastery of the graphic arts utilizes fine line work and deep shadow to convey the fantastical, often floating, figures central to his interpretation of psychological and theatrical themes.
While interpreting a major work of Russian literature, this piece firmly sits within the French cultural context, classified as a major example of the illustrated book genre produced during the interwar era. Chagall’s prints from this period demonstrate his sustained commitment to narrative complexity. The comprehensive collection of Chagall’s graphic work, including this specific example of Pétrouchka, plate V, is preserved in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York. This ensures the accessibility of the original work, and prints and high-resolution reproductions of major pieces from this artistic period are frequently made available through various public domain initiatives.
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