The Small Town (La Petite ville), plate III (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes

The Small Town (La Petite ville), plate III (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes is a significant print created by Marc Chagall in 1923. This intricate work utilizes the combined techniques of etching and drypoint, showcasing the artist’s distinctive approach to graphic design. Classified as an Illustrated Book component, the piece belongs to the supplementary suite of illustrations Chagall produced for Nikolai Gogol’s classic Russian novel, Dead Souls (Les Âmes mortes).

This classification highlights the importance of prints and printmaking in early 20th-century French culture, where artistic interpretations of literary works often employed graphic mediums. While the specific composition of The Small Town remains rooted in European architecture, Chagall infuses the scene with his signature emotional intensity and dreamlike perspective. The combination of etching and drypoint allows the artist to achieve both sharp delineation and rich tonal variation. Etching provides precise detail, while the burr left by the drypoint needle creates rich, velvety blacks and dense lines, defining the intimate, sometimes claustrophobic, atmosphere suggested by the title.

This extensive project spanned the period of 1923-48, reflecting Chagall’s continued engagement with modernism and literary interpretation during his influential tenure in France. The work demonstrates the artist’s capacity to translate complex psychological narratives into visually arresting prints, often utilizing motifs drawn from his Eastern European heritage overlaid onto his established French artistic identity. The lasting impact of this series cemented Chagall’s reputation as a master illustrator. Today, this notable print is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), ensuring its availability for scholarly study and public appreciation alongside other significant works from this period.