The artwork titled “A man without passport with policeman” is an etching on paper, created around 1923 in Paris, France, by the artist Marc Chagall. This piece is part of the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and falls under the genre of illustration. It is a part of the “Dead souls” series and is currently housed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.
The artwork features two figures, a man and a policeman, rendered with expressive, simplified lines and forms characteristic of Chagall’s style within the Naïve Art movement. The policeman, facing away with hands clasped behind his back, is depicted with a strong, authoritative posture. The man without a passport stands in a subdued, somewhat dejected pose, with his head slightly bowed and body turned towards the policeman. The background is sparse, with only hints of architectural elements in the form of small window squares, emphasizing the desolation and focus on the figures’ interaction. The piece uses minimalistic and sketch-like details to convey emotions and narrative succinctly, in keeping with the themes of Chagall’s “Dead souls” series.
