Sobakévitch Near the Armchair (Sobakévitch près du fauteuil), plate XXXVIIbis (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes is a significant print created by Marc Chagall in 1923. This intricate illustration was executed using the demanding techniques of etching and drypoint, enhanced by the textural quality of roulette work. The piece belongs to a vast series of works commissioned by the dealer Ambroise Vollard to illustrate Nikolai Gogol's sprawling 19th-century satire, Dead Souls (French: Les Âmes mortes).
Chagall, a master of 20th-century graphic arts, imbued his literary subjects with his signature fantastical and expressionistic style. Unlike the vibrant color palette typically associated with his paintings, this work, characterized by its stark, dynamic black-and-white structure, emphasizes form, texture, and narrative tension. The illustration of Sobakévitch, one of Gogol's notoriously coarse and grotesquely characterized landowners, demonstrates Chagall’s ability to translate psychological depth into sharp visual metaphor. The artist’s use of sharp lines and heavy shadows conveys the character's bearish presence as he is positioned near the oversized furniture of the drawing room.
This particular supplementary etching falls within the French cultural period of 1923-48, during which Chagall focused heavily on these illustrated book projects. This dedication cemented his status as a leading figure in modern art illustration. Classified formally as an illustrated book plate, the work offers valuable insight into Chagall’s vision for the Gogol series. While many of the core series prints are widely reproduced, this specific plate from the supplementary suite is a testament to the comprehensive scope of the commission. The work is held in the prestigious collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), recognizing its importance both within Chagall’s oeuvre and in the history of modern prints and fine book illustration.
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