Tchitchikov and Sobakévitch Discuss Business (Tchitchikov et Sobakévitch discutent affaires), plate XXXVII (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes

Tchitchikov and Sobakévitch Discuss Business (Tchitchikov et Sobakévitch discutent affaires), plate XXXVII (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes by Marc Chagall, executed circa 1923, is a defining example of 20th-century illustrated book printmaking. This piece utilizes the demanding techniques of etching and drypoint, showcasing the artist’s skill in graphic media. Chagall created this comprehensive suite of prints to illustrate Nikolai Gogol’s seminal novel, Dead Souls (Les Âmes mortes), a satirical masterpiece concerning the exploits of the schemer Tchitchikov who attempts to purchase deceased serfs ("dead souls") for financial gain.

The classification of this specific image as part of the supplementary suite underscores its role in completing the visual interpretation of Gogol’s text. Unlike his vibrant color works, Chagall’s illustrations for Dead Souls rely entirely on the contrast, texture, and intensity achievable through the etching and drypoint processes. He uses the drypoint needle to incise rich, fuzzy lines into the plate, lending a moody and psychological depth to the interaction between the eponymous characters. This stark aesthetic perfectly complements the bleak satire and often grotesque characterizations found in the Russian literary source.

The work sits within the French cultural period, reflecting Chagall's deep involvement in Parisian modernist circles after his return to the city in the early 1920s. Though the specific creation date is 1923, the artistic impact and publication efforts span the larger period of 1923-48. Chagall’s style, deeply rooted in expressionism and early Surrealism, translates the narrative’s tension through distorted perspectives and dynamic compositions. This piece is crucial for scholars studying how modern masters adapted graphic arts to literary illustration. This significant impression of Tchitchikov and Sobakévitch Discuss Business is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), affirming its status as a vital component of the history of modern prints.