The Eagle 

Gustave Doré made this engraving, "The Eagle," in nineteenth-century France to illustrate Dante's Purgatorio. The image depicts Saint Lucy carrying Dante up towards the gates of Purgatory. Doré’s illustrations gained popularity in the mid-nineteenth century due to advances in industrial wood engraving. The Illustrated London News, founded in 1842, was one of the first illustrated newspapers, taking advantage of the expansion of the railways. The proliferation of images was a key aspect of modernity; as more and more people moved to cities, art became available to wider audiences. Doré's work was frequently viewed as challenging the established art institutions of his time, in part because it helped to democratize access to art through print media. To truly understand art, it’s important to go beyond just looking; consider the social landscape, economic realities, and cultural values that shaped its creation and reception. Researching the historical context of an artwork provides a richer, more meaningful experience.