Fantástico. Gustave Doré

The selection of works reproduced and discussed here is based on a combination of chronological, thematic, and aesthetic criteria. Doré created both comic caricatures and serious images, epic visions and contemplative vistas, observing reality while displaying virtuosity in the realm of fantasy. These thematic, stylistic, and formal convergences powerfully reveal Gustave Doré’s artistic personality. Beyond his virtuosity, his tastes also shine through. His preferred subjects are varied: he favors starry nights, forests of towering black pines, rugged landscapes, sword fights, enchanted castles, flying creatures, and sea monsters. In short, Doré loves to dream and to inspire dreams in others; he cultivates the realm of the marvelous.