Fulk-Nerra Assailed by the Phantoms of His Victims 

Gustave Doré created this image of Fulk-Nerra tormented by phantoms using wood engraving. It's a relief printmaking technique that demands incredible skill. Look closely and you'll see that every line, every shadow, is carved by hand into a block of wood, usually dense boxwood. The artist uses specialized tools, like burins and gravers, to remove the material, leaving the design raised on the surface. This is then inked and pressed onto paper. The material itself, wood, lends a particular character to the image. Notice the stark contrast between light and shadow, the fine lines that create texture, and the overall graphic quality. Doré's mastery of the technique, combined with the labor-intensive process, imbues the work with a sense of drama, perfectly capturing Fulk-Nerra’s torment. The printmaking process democratized art, and the way Doré used this medium challenged traditional distinctions between illustration and fine art. It reminds us that the means of production are just as important as the subject matter.