“Prosecutor’s Death,” created by Marc Chagall around 1923 in Paris, France, is an etching on paper embodying the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. The artwork, part of the “Dead Souls” series, can be classified under the genre of illustration. This piece is presently housed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.
The artwork presents a stark and gripping scene. At the center, a male figure lies lifeless on a wooden floor, his hands clasped over his abdomen, with his legs straight and head turned to one side. The etching captures the harsh reality of the man’s demise with a haunting simplicity. To the left of the figure, a chair is overturned, suggesting a sudden and violent altercation preceding the death. A modest table stands in the background, its solitary drawer slightly ajar, adding to the desolate atmosphere. The overall composition is void of unnecessary details, focusing attention on the sombre nature of the event portrayed. The choice of black ink on white paper enhances the starkness and emotional impact of the scene, fitting neatly within Chagall’s primitive and illustrative style.
