The Vision of Hell (Inferno)
Original title: The Vision of Hell (Inferno)
kurzbeschreibung
This wood engraving, made in 1866, shows two figures deep in conversation inside a dark cavern, with more figures standing behind them. The print belongs to Gustave Doré's well-known series of illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy.
Description
Two figures in long, dark robes fill the middle ground, their grave faces thoughtful. Fine strokes give texture to the cave walls. Behind them other figures dissolve into the gloom, and on the left smoke or steam rises from an opening in the rock. Light falling from above picks out the contours of both figures and walls. Shades of grey set the oppressive, sombre mood.
Context
Doré made the illustration in 1866 for his series on Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, first published in 1861. Engravers realised the wood engravings under Doré's supervision, and they became known internationally. This Inferno image reflects the Victorian fascination with the sublime and the terrible. Doré was then regarded as one of Europe's most successful book illustrators.
Impact
The dark palette and delicate lines create a brooding, almost stifling atmosphere. The lighting directs the eye to the figures and strengthens the sense of isolation and seriousness. The richly detailed cave landscape invites slow exploration of the image.
Technique
Hatching and crisp linework carry the whole image, cut into a hard wood board that was then printed. Fine parallel strokes model the faces, robes and rock face, a hallmark of nineteenth-century wood engraving. The sheet measures 38.4 x 30.5 cm; the book format including binding is 38.4 x 30.5 x 4.5 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)