Sobakévitch's House (La Maison de Sobakévitch), plate XXXI (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes

Sobakévitch's House (La Maison de Sobakévitch), plate XXXI (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes is an etching created by Marc Chagall in 1923. This piece is part of the monumental series of prints Chagall produced to illustrate Nikolai Gogol's satirical masterpiece, Dead Souls. Executed in France shortly after Chagall’s return to Western Europe, the work demonstrates the artist's deep commitment to literary illustration and his masterful handling of the etching medium, utilizing deep lines and dramatic contrasts to render the scene.

The illustration depicts a setting related to the character Sobakévitch, one of the grotesque landowners Chichikov attempts to swindle. Unlike the plates in the main sequence, this particular work belongs to the supplementary suite, reflecting Chagall's complex engagement with the novel’s structure and psychological depth. Commissioned initially by the dealer Ambroise Vollard, the overall project was extensive, spanning the period 1923-48 before its eventual publication. This timeframe firmly positions the work within the defining artistic culture of French modernism during the interwar and postwar eras.

Chagall’s approach to these literary prints is notably distinct from his colorful, symbolic paintings. He uses the inherent limitations of the black-and-white medium to amplify the psychological darkness and absurdity present in Gogol’s scathing critique of Russian society. The rigorous etching technique allowed Chagall to emphasize texture and shadow, conveying the dilapidated atmosphere of the house and hinting at the moral decay of its owner. This significant example of an illustrated book project is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). The importance of such historic French prints ensures its continued visibility for scholarly research, contributing to the broader accessibility of works from this era, including those entering the public domain.