The artwork titled “Disputation of Pliushkin and Mavra” is an etching on paper created by Marc Chagall around 1923, during his time in Paris, France. It is a part of the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and serves as an illustration within the “Dead Souls” series. The dimensions of the work are 27.8 by 21.5 centimeters, and it is currently housed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.
The artwork depicts a vivid and emotive scene, rendered in Chagall’s distinctive style. Two figures dominate the composition: on the left, a woman, presumably Mavra, is characterized by her robust form and expressive gestures, suggesting a state of agitation or emotional intensity. She appears to be vocalizing or gesticulating emphatically, possibly in a heated debate. On the right, a man, likely Pliushkin, is depicted in a dramatic pose, covering his head with one hand while the other is extended outward, perhaps in response to Mavra’s outburst. The setting is minimally detailed, focusing attention on the characters’ interactions and emotional expressions, which are further amplified by the stark contrasts and textural details inherent to the etching medium. Chagall’s use of line and shading conveys a sense of movement and tension, encapsulating the spirited essence of the disputation.
