Nikolai Gogol was a Ukrainian-born humorist, dramatist, and novelist whose works, written in Russian, significantly influenced the direction of Russian literature.

Marc Chagall has been described as the greatest Jewish painter of all time. His artwork shifts constantly from reality to fantasy, from physical to spiritual, just as his life brought him face-to-face with different worlds of Russia and France, and conflicting sources of inspiration.

“Dead Souls,” Russia’s first major novel, is one of the most unusual works of nineteenth-century fiction and a devastating satire on social hypocrisy.

When the satirical words of Gogol, and the surrealist, folkloric imagery of Chagall met on paper, the magical pairing was undeniable. The tragedy and humor of existence in 19th-century Imperialist Russia are embodied by the despicable, colorful protagonist of Gogol’s tale, aptly rendered and brought to life by Chagall’s caricature-like etchings.