The Table Piled with Food (La Table chargée de victuailles), plate XXXV (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes

The Table Piled with Food (La Table chargée de victuailles), plate XXXV (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes by Marc Chagall is a powerful example of the artist's engagement with literary illustration. Created in 1923, this work employs the demanding intaglio techniques of etching and drypoint, emphasizing the sharp lines and textural contrasts characteristic of Chagall's early graphic output. Classified as an Illustrated Book, the work was commissioned by the Parisian art dealer Ambroise Vollard as part of a deluxe edition of Nikolai Gogol’s seminal satirical epic, Dead Souls (Les Âmes mortes).

Chagall produced over one hundred prints for this commission, interpreting Gogol’s critique of Tsarist Russia’s provincial society and the greed of its landowners. Although often associated with ethereal figures and vibrant color, here Chagall works entirely in black and white, using the stark contrast afforded by etching to capture the grotesque and surreal elements of the narrative. The specific subject matter of this plate, a table overwhelmingly burdened with victuals, suggests the gluttony, materialism, and wasteful abundance that form central themes in Gogol’s critique of corruption. The meticulous application of drypoint technique lends a rich, dark burr to the shadows, enhancing the dramatic intensity of the scene.

This illustration falls within the influential 1923-48 period, during which Chagall firmly established himself within the French artistic environment following his return to Paris. As a significant example of modern graphic arts and a historically important illustrated book, this piece showcases the artist's ability to blend deep Russian cultural memory with modernist abstraction. The entire series cemented Chagall's reputation as a master printmaker. This important work is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.