Walking to the Table (On passe à table), plate XXXIV (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes

Walking to the Table (On passe à table), plate XXXIV (supplementary suite) from Les Âmes mortes is an evocative etching created by Marc Chagall in 1923. This intricate work of graphic art, classified as an Illustrated Book component, belongs to a series commissioned by the Parisian publisher Ambroise Vollard, intended to accompany Nikolai Gogol's satirical masterpiece, Dead Souls. Chagall interpreted the 19th-century Russian novel through a distinct French artistic lens, merging the text's narrative elements with his signature Surrealist-leaning dream imagery.

Although initially created in 1923, the full realization and publication of these prints were delayed, contributing to the broader documented period of 1923-48 for the project. Working within the artistic environment of post-war Europe, Chagall utilized the exacting process of etching to achieve high contrast and dynamic, expressionistic line work. The composition reflects his early modern style, characterized by flattened space, shifting scale, and figures rendered with melancholic humor. This specific piece, part of the supplementary suite, captures a domestic or tavern scene, rendered with a sense of quiet tension and the underlying absurdity typical of Gogol’s narrative.

The resulting portfolio of fifty-four etchings and this supplementary material represents a significant contribution to 20th-century graphic arts. As an example of high-quality fine art prints designed to enhance a literary text, the piece remains a vital reference point for understanding the history of the Illustrated Book genre. The original composition, highly valued for its technical skill and narrative power, is currently held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. The presence of this work in a major collection reinforces Chagall’s stature among the modern masters of the print medium.