Tchitchikov on the Bed (Tchitchikov sur le lit), plate XVI (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes

Tchitchikov on the Bed (Tchitchikov sur le lit), plate XVI (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes is an illustrative print created by Marc Chagall in 1923. Executed in etching and drypoint, this work belongs to a significant series commissioned by the Parisian art dealer and publisher Ambroise Vollard, intended to accompany a French translation of Nikolai Gogol’s classic satirical novel, Dead Souls.

The scene centers on the protagonist, Pavel Ivanovich Tchitchikov, depicted resting within the confines of a modest room. Chagall captures the character’s introspective nature, reflecting his relentless obsession with accumulating wealth through the illegal purchase of defunct serfs, or "dead souls." The composition uses heavy contour lines and dramatic contrasts typical of the etching medium, lending a sense of weight and psychological intensity to the figure. The use of drypoint adds a characteristic burr, creating velvety shadows that envelop the room and heighten the conspiratorial mood.

Chagall’s approach to illustration during this time was highly expressionistic, focusing less on direct narrative representation and more on capturing the absurdity and depth of Gogol's literary vision. This print is a prime example of Chagall’s graphic work during the period 1923-48, demonstrating his ability to interpret complex Russian literary subjects through the lens of modern French printmaking traditions.

As a piece classified under the classification of Illustrated Book, the work is crucial to understanding the crossover between European modernism and publishing during the 1920s. This specific image, Tchitchikov on the Bed, is highly regarded among the supplementary prints created for the final volume. It currently resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, affirming its significance in the history of 20th-century graphic arts.