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| Gustave Dore |
Today is
D in
A to Z Challenge. As part of theme Creative Life I'll talk about the incredible French illustrator,
Gustave Dore (1832-1883). This man created engravings for some of the world's most beloved literature: Milton's Paradise Lost, Dante's Divine Comedy, Fables de la Fontaine, Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven and Dore's illustrated Bible.
At the age of five he was noted for pranks, but by fifteen, he was regularly employed as an illustrator in Paris. He's most celebrated as an artist who created dark dreamscapes, as seen in his depictions of Satan, and the eerie pictures in Poe's Raven. He is also a master of landscape as a powerful backdrop for leather-winged angels and demons. He continues to inspire book illustrators-from N. C. Wyeth, to Brian Selznick. Let the illustrations conjure up their own magic for you.
Which is your favorite? Why?
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| The Raven |
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Satan from the Divine Comedies
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| The Hare and the Frogs |
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| Little Red Riding Hood |
Wow! His stuff is amazing. Thanks for sharing this wonderful artist! I can't pick a favorite: I love his use of detail in each, and it's also really cool that each piece is so distinctly different.
ReplyDeleteHappy A-Z challenge month!
Wow, thanks for posting this. His engravings really were powerful and darkly beautiful...and morbid as hell, but I like that kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteHappy Hump-Day!
My D: Dark-Horse, Dog Days, Don't Count & More!
Yes, Jaycee, morbid yet somehow brimming with life! I love that contradiction.
ReplyDeleteSo cool! I never heard of him so I'm glad to learn something new. I would have to pick the Little Red Riding Hood one just for it's high creep factor. Scary!
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the contradiction in the illustrations, Catherine. That's what makes them so intriguing.
ReplyDeleteOoo. I'm feeling some intrigue with these paintings. I've seen the Little Red Riding Hood one. Chilling.
ReplyDeletePlay off the Page
Wow! Talented guy!
ReplyDeleteThese are so good! I like the Hare and the Frogs. That hare just jumps out at me!
ReplyDeleteI love the way the raven dominates the landscape, very dramatic, I think I like this the best- difficult choice though\1
ReplyDeleteThis was such a lovely post :) I'm writing about an illustrator tomorrow! I love the hare and the frogs but I'm not really sure why. It just seems softer, somehow, than the others.
ReplyDeleteThank you for helping me find another great illustrator :)
Nikki – inspire nordic
Karen G, I'm with you. I LOVE the Hare and the Frogs. I do like that sad looking Satan as well. Poor devil always gets a bad rap! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great D. It was fascinating to learn more of the man behind those famous illustrations.
ReplyDeleteI think the Little Red Riding Hood illustration captures the inherent darkness of fairy tales. Pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog!
I like The Raven. Thanks for introducing us to Dore's work. Great to meet you on the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI can't decide between The Raven (love E.A. Poe) and Little Red. Reckon I'll just have to like 'em both!
ReplyDeleteSome Dark Romantic
Thanks for keeping us schooled in the art department, Catherine! His pics are beautiful. I like the hare and the frogs.
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing, dark and lovely. The Satan one especially.
ReplyDeletethe Raven!
ReplyDeletehappy A to Z
baygirl32.blogspot.com
Thanks, guys! That's 4 votes for the Raven, the Hare and Little Red Riding Hood, and two for Satan.
ReplyDeleteYour post sent be scrambling to dig up a catalogue from an exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt years ago re: 'Fantastic Illustration and Design in Britain' to see if he was among the featured artists. Of course he was. I love this kind of art. Re: my favorite -- The Hare and the Frogs (though Little Red Riding Hood is numero one for sentimental reasons.
ReplyDeleteOoh, Little Red Riding Hood has now taken the lead, after your vote, Deb!
ReplyDeleteI like his illustrations for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, but I haven't looked at his Red Riding Hood stuff. I will have to check that out.
ReplyDeleteA-Z @ Elizabeth Twist
Elizabeth, I'll have to check those Ancient Mariner ones out.
ReplyDelete