The artwork titled “Sobakevich’s house” was created by Marc Chagall around 1923 in Paris, France. The piece, an etching on paper, belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and is part of the “Dead Souls” series. It measures 21.1 x 27.6 cm and falls under the genre of illustration. Presently, the artwork is housed in the Tretyakov Gallery located in Moscow, Russia.
The artwork presents a quaint scenic portrayal of Sobakevich’s dwelling, capturing a distinctively simplistic and primitive aesthetic resonant with Naïve Art. The etching predominantly features large contiguous shapes with minimal detailing, thus imparting a childlike yet profound essence. Central to the scene is the focal building, characterized by its pronounced geometrical form and extended porch. Around it, smaller structures and figures are depicted, contributing to a narrative richness and depth. The characters, rendered with exaggerated and whimsical traits, along with elements like horse-drawn carriages, add a touch of rural quaintness and narrate a vivid atmospheric presence rooted deeply in folk culture.
